NLA warns illegal lottery costs Ghana over GH¢1 billion annually
The economy is losing more than GH¢1billion in revenue each year to illegal lottery activities, highlighting the growing threat posed by unregulated operators to the country’s gaming industry and public finances.
Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, disclosed this while addressing stakeholders at the 2026 European Lotteries (EL) Industry Days held in Marrakesh, Morocco.
He said the proliferation of unauthorised lottery operators continues to undermine NLA’s revenue mobilisation efforts, depriving the state of significant income that could support national development initiatives.
Calling for a united front against illegal gambling, Abdul-Salam urged members of the European Lotteries and African Lotteries Association (ALA), as well as industry stakeholders, to intensify efforts at combatting the menace.
He warned that illegal gambling continues to deprive economies of substantial revenue while denying governments the resources needed to improve livelihoods and fund social development programmes.
“Ghana loses over GH¢1billion annually to illegal gaming activities, the equivalent of about US$85million” he reiterated.
Speaking on the topic ‘The fight against illegal gambling as a significant and growing issue in Africa’, Abdul-Salam highlighted the scale of this challenge across the continent.
He cited Ghana, Benin and South Africa as countries losing millions of dollars annually to illegal lottery and gambling activities – with South Africa recording losses estimated at more than US$30billion.
He highlighted the significant economic impact on these countries, which must be addressed immediately to curb the revenue drain that could otherwise be used for development.
Curbing the menace
Enumerating the solutions being explored by Ghana to address illegal gambling, Abdul-Salam listed the use of technology to combat activities of scammers and lottery syndicates; the introduction of sophisticated POS machines for retailers; addressing lapses in enforcement of Responsible Gaming; strengthening the Authority’s National Lotto Act through an act of parliament; and the use of Corporate Social Responsibility or Good Causes.
The NLA DG concluded his address with a call on stakeholders not to relent in the war against illegal gambling.
“For every amount lost to an illegal lottery operator, a child is denied education, a community is denied a health facility, the youth lose opportunities and the economy of a nation loses millions that could help improve the lives of its citizenry,” he said.
Other speakers, including EL president, Romana Girandon and Secretary General of the African Lottery Association Omar Skalli, shared solutions to address illegal gambling, promote responsible gaming and leverage technology and strategies to advance lottery operations across continents.
The 2026 EL Industry Days, held under the theme ‘Lotteries Bridging Continents’, aim to foster meaningful collaboration between Europe and Africa to share best practices on opportunities and challenges in the gaming industry; mutual priorities; utilise digital solutions; share strategies for addressing illegal practices; promote responsible gaming; and reaffirm national lotteries as a catalyst to advance society.
The National Lottery Authority has been an Observer Member of European Lotteries since June 2024.
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