The National Lottery Authority (NLA) of Ghana has revealed that approximately 1 billion Ghana Cedis (about $130 million) of its estimated annual revenue is lost to illegal lottery operators.

According to the NLA, around 780 unauthorized lotto operators have been identified across the country, significantly contributing to the decline in revenue.

Sammy Awuku, Director General of the NLA, testified before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, stating that efforts to curb these unlawful operations have been hindered by political interference.

Mr. Awuku emphasised that addressing this issue requires a bipartisan approach, as many of these illegal operators have affiliations with major political parties in Ghana.

The NLA estimates that the country’s lottery industry is worth around 1.8 billion Ghana Cedis annually, with illegal operators controlling about 55% of the market share.

These unauthorised operators evade taxes and operate without licenses, further complicating efforts to clamp down on their activities.

The NLA has vowed to take a firm stance, refusing to allow unlicensed operators to continue their illegal activities and hindering revenue mobilisation efforts.

“In the Supreme Court decision, they asked the NLA to also be fair and allow people in to participate. However, they should be fair and transparent in their regulation. So, yes, we have activities of illegal lottery. It is the biggest monster in the room, and it will need a bipartisan effort to root out.”

“You go after these illegal lottery operators, and they are more or less political affiliations to the two major political parties in Ghana. Mr. Chairman, respectfully, your party and my party. You keep having pleas from both sides, but we have been resolute. So, we have been resolute in stamping our feet.”

“We have an estimated 780 illegal operating lottery companies in Ghana. Ghana’s lottery field is estimated by the World Lottery Association to reach 1.8 billion cedis a year. Out of this, about a billion is in the hands of the illegals. They don’t pay taxes.”

“You don’t own them, You go after them, and it becomes a political matter. But now we have decided that in helping us get to that revenue mobilization point if you are not licensed to operate the lottery, we won’t allow you to operate.”