The Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) has defended the role of licensed Private Lotto Operators (PLOs) in supporting the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and the wider economy.

It said recent comparisons between the reported contributions of KGL Technology Limited and those of private operators present a misleading picture of the lottery industry.

Speaking to The Ghanaian Times last Saturday, the Association explained that the 29 licensed operators remain among the biggest contributors to employment, grassroots economic activity and revenue generation within the sector. It stressed that their impact should be measured beyond headline revenue figures.

GLOA said comparisons between KGL’s reported GH¢173 million contribution and the combined GH¢44.9 million licence fees paid by private operators to the NLA in 2025 fail to take into account the different operating conditions under which the two entities function.

According to the Association, while the 29 operators work as licensed lotto operators under the National Lotto Act, KGL operates as a collaborator of the NLA under a separate arrangement. It noted that the public was being presented with a comparison between entities operating under fundamentally different conditions.

The Association further pointed out that KGL enjoys exclusive access to a dedicated USSD platform, which allows it to reach a large segment of the market through mobile-based transactions. It argued that this provides a significant competitive advantage that is not available to licensed private operators and largely drives its revenue performance.

In contrast, GLOA said private operators maintain extensive nationwide physical networks, which require heavy investment in point-of-sale terminals, kiosks, transportation, maintenance services and administrative systems. It added that operators also recruit, train and support thousands of lotto writers, agents, supervisors and sub-agents.

The Association indicated that such investments account for about 60 per cent of operating costs, even before factoring in customer winnings, taxes and other regulatory obligations.

Despite these costs, GLOA said private operators continue to make substantial contributions to the NLA. It disclosed that each of the 29 operators pays an annual licence fee of GH¢1.5 million, bringing the total to GH¢44.9 million in 2025. In addition, operators contribute through taxes, payments to the Good Causes Foundation and compliance with regulatory requirements.

The Association described employment creation as one of the most overlooked contributions of the sector, noting that more than one million Ghanaians depend directly or indirectly on the activities of private operators for their livelihoods.

It explained that the network includes lotto writers, agents, supervisors, transport operators, maintenance personnel and other support workers. According to the Association, lotto writers receive commissions equivalent to 25 per cent of gross revenue, while supervising agents earn an additional five per cent.

GLOA emphasised that the value of supporting more than one million livelihoods should form part of any meaningful assessment of the industry’s contribution.

It therefore urged government, regulators and policymakers to adopt a broader framework for evaluating the lottery sector, taking into account employment creation, tax contributions, infrastructure investment, support to the Good Causes Foundation, market access and long-term sustainability.

The Association maintained that private lotto operators had consistently supported the NLA while making significant investments in jobs and economic development.