Sammy Awuku
The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku has revealed that the company loses about 40 per cent of its revenue to illegal operators as several attempts were been made to clamp down on them.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s ‘Meet the Press’ series in Accra yesterday, he said the percentage constitutes a significant reduction from that of 2021 where the company lost about 65 per cent of its revenue to illegal operators.
“As at 2021, we had about 65 per cent of our market in the hands of illegal operators but now it’s just about 40 per cent. We keep working hard so that these numbers are reduced significantly, that is why we keep advising the public that if you play the game with an unlicensed company you are setting yourself up for a tragedy because if there is a big win they will close their doors and run and so we are encouraging you to go with the NLA or our accredited lotto operators”.
According to him, the World Lottery Association estimated that about $1.3 billion of revenue were lost through illegal lottery activities.
That, he stated were among some of the key reasons why his outfit will continue to engage state security agencies particularly the BNI and the National Signal Bureau to arrest these illegal operators.
He said in spite of the challenges facing his outfit the NLA, generated almost GH¢ 290 million locally as well as games royalties generated from some of the African countries .
“My initial trips to Ivory Coast and Nigeria would now pay off as both countries will soon pay us royalties of GH¢ 18 million and GH¢13 million respectively, for drawing our Games online through KGL Group.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah