Sanction

Non-members were excluded from the trade, to become a member one had to serve a long and low-paid apprenticeship to an established member, and to pay various sums of money(for entry fee, graduation fee, compulsory gifts and banquets,etc.). Government sanctioned these practices, and imposed restrictions of its own, ostensibly in the public interest, but also to raise revenue and to provide fees and bribes for officials.

Q: in this context, what's the" sanctioned these practices" mean? sanctioned means controled? and practices means activities or rules?

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