Ghana is losing more than GH¢1 billion annually to illegal lottery and gambling activities, a situation that is undermining government revenue, threatening the integrity of the gaming industry, and limiting resources available for national development.
Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam, Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), disclosed this during the 2026 European Lotteries (EL) Industry Days held in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Addressing participants on the theme, “The Fight Against Illegal Gambling as a Significant and Growing Issue in Africa,” Mr. Abdul-Salam described illegal lottery operations as one of the biggest challenges confronting the gaming sector across the continent.
He said Ghana alone loses more than GH¢1 billion, equivalent to about US$85 million, every year through unregulated lottery activities, reducing the Authority’s ability to mobilise revenue for national development.
“The continued proliferation of illegal lottery operators deprives the state of substantial income that could be invested in education, healthcare, infrastructure and other social intervention programmes,” he said.
Mr. Abdul-Salam noted that the problem extends beyond Ghana, with countries such as Benin and South Africa also recording significant losses from illegal gambling operations.
He cited estimates indicating that South Africa loses more than US$30 billion annually to illegal gambling activities, underscoring the growing economic burden on African countries.
The NLA Director-General stressed the need for stronger collaboration among lottery regulators, governments and industry players to combat illegal gambling and protect legitimate lottery operations.
He urged members of the European Lotteries, the African Lotteries Association (ALA), and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, improve enforcement and deploy innovative technologies to curb illegal gaming.
According to him, Ghana is implementing a number of measures to tackle the problem, including deploying advanced technology to detect lottery fraud and dismantle criminal syndicates, introducing modern Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals for accredited retailers, strengthening responsible gaming practices, and reviewing the National Lotto Act to address emerging challenges in the sector.
He added that the Authority was also promoting Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, commonly referred to as “Good Causes,” to ensure lottery proceeds continue to support social and community development.
Mr. Abdul-Salam said the fight against illegal lottery was not only about protecting the gaming industry but also safeguarding resources needed to improve the welfare of citizens.
“For every amount lost to an illegal lottery operator, a child is denied education, a community is denied a health facility, young people lose opportunities, and the nation loses resources that could improve lives,” he stated.
Other speakers at the conference, including Ms. Romana Girandon, President of European Lotteries, and Mr. Omar Skalli, Secretary-General of the African Lotteries Association, shared experiences on tackling illegal gambling, promoting responsible gaming and leveraging digital innovation to strengthen lottery operations.
The 2026 European Lotteries Industry Days, held under the theme “Lotteries Bridging Continents,” brought together lottery operators and regulators from Europe and Africa to exchange best practices, strengthen cooperation, promote responsible gaming and develop strategies to combat illegal gambling.
The National Lottery Authority has been an Observer Member of the European Lotteries since June 2024.
