Only here: Betting parlor owners protest cut in lottery drawings

Santo Domingo.- In one of those developments seen only in this country, such as unionized judges, hundreds of betting parlor workers and owners picketed outside the Finance Ministry Tuesday morning to protest against its resolution cutting the drawings to just one per day for each lottery.

To the beat of drums and trumpets, the protesters also waved banners in rebuke of the measure and voiced chants against the government agency.

The protest backed up traffic throughout the area, especially on Mexico Av., just a few blocks from the National Palace.

Police agent arrived at the scene wielding tear gas canisters, but with no confrontations thus far.

The heads of the National Betting Parlors Federation, Femabanca, had already entered the Finance Ministry to talk to its senior officials.