NLA officials, GLOA members in a group photograph
In a move to combat illegal lottery operations and promote transparency, the National Lottery Authority (NLA) last Friday issued licences to 15 private lotto operators.
The licenced operators include Alpha Lotto Limited, Rand Lottery Company Limited, Makafui Mogyi Limited, Accurate Giant Limited, Miwor Kakra Yebedi Nti Limited, Glovita Lottery Limited, Zacdow Company Limited, and Obiri Asare Company Limited.
Others are Vision 2000 Lotto Limited, SB Businesses Venture, Diblo Lottery and Trading Limited, Best Chance Lottery Limited, From Home Company Limited, Super Rand Ventures, and Luma Technologies and Trading Limited.
The licensing process was formally concluded with all legal documentation at a ceremony held at the NLA Headquarters in Accra on August 30, 2024.
Rand Lottery Company Limited and Alpha Lotto Limited received licences valid for 10 years each, as they currently operate Point-of-Sale Terminals (POST) in the digital space.
The remaining 13 operators, who still utilise manual paper systems, were granted two-year licences, subject to renewal, encouraging them to transition to digital operations.
The Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA), representing these licenced operators, will see their contracts take effect in January 2024.
This development follows the NLA’s decision to temporarily suspend its crackdown on private lotto operators amid allegations of illegal activities.
This decision came after a productive meeting between the NLA Board and GLOA representatives on August 14, 2024.
The GLOA maintained that its members were operating within legal boundaries, and after weeks of discussions, a consensus was reached.
During the ceremony, NLA Board Chairman, Gary Nimako Marfo, emphasised the importance of providing a clear compliance roadmap for private lotto operators to ensure that all unlicensed operators are regulated.
He noted that the licences allow these operators to adhere to the National Lotto Act of 2006 (Act 722), the Lottery Regulations of 2008 (L.I. 1948), and the Veterans Administration Ghana Act of 2012 (Act 844).
“It is an affirmation that you have been granted licences to operate as lotto marketing companies in the country,” he stated, receiving applause from the licenced operators.
He expressed pride in this milestone for the lotto industry, highlighting the challenging process leading up to it.
Mr. Marfo reiterated that he was not sent by President Akufo-Addo to undermine any businesses but to ensure their success so that the government can receive its fair share of revenue.
He urged licenced operators to actively address illegal operations within the industry, stating, “You cannot pay money to the NLA or the government while others evade their responsibilities.”
Mr. Marfo concluded by declaring an end to illegal operations in Ghana’s lotto industry, expressing optimism for a more regulated future.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke