Leonel Fernandez met with representatives of the National Lottery Sales Federation (Fenabanca) yesterday and agreed to enter into a dialogue to resolve the conflict that was created by the attempt to collect a new tax of RD$3,000 a month. Federation president Wilson de los Santos reported that the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII), the National Lottery, and the federation members are looking for a formula that can resolve the stalemate over the collection of this tax that the people who own the "bancas" refuse to pay.

He said that after the meeting with the President, Fenabanca decided to suspend a protest that lottery sales kiosks owners and employees were planning for today, to demand an end to the compulsory collection of this new tax. Fenabanca has complained that in the face of this imposition, the DGII has taken an "arbitrary step" of closing these businesses, an order that so far has affected some 800 "bancas", according to his complaint. "Bancas" are small, medium or large betting parlors where customers can buy lottery tickets, and place bets on sporting events around the world.

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