NLA will be more aggressive in 2023 to clamp down on illegal lotto operators – Sammi Awuku

The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mr. Sammi Awuku has indicated that his outfit remains determined to sanitise the lottery industry.

At a press briefing in Accra on Monday, April 3, he stressed that “the NLA is going to be more aggressive towards clamping down on illegal lotto operators this year.”

According to him, the NLA will do this by partnering all stakeholders including security agencies.

He said since his appointment as the Director-General of the NLA, he has continued the process of licensing Private Lotto Operators annually started by his predecessor.

Mr. Sammi Awuku explained that the efforts of his administration are to sanitise the lottery space and generate revenue for national development.

To register, operators who want to operate under the framework of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722) pay a sum of one million, five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 1,500,000.00), while those who operate under the Veterans Administration Ghana Act, 2012 (Act 844) pay a sum of Five Hundred Thousand cedis.

In an advise to Ghanaians, Sammi Awuku said it is important that people desist from staking with unlicensed operators.

He argued that staking with licensed operators is not only safe but it helps to raise revenue for the government to develop the country.

“If you play with an unlicensed operator you are not doing yourself any good. Go with the NLA or any of our accredited operators to be safe,” the NLA Director-General intimated.

At the press briefing, Sammi Awuku indicated that he is confident that the NLA will continue to enjoy more successes.

Meanwhile, the NLA Director-General says the authority expects New Draw Machines purchased according to the World Lottery Authority Standards by the end of April to phase out over 25-year-old Draw Machines.

In addition, the NLA is expected to launch its multiple draws by the first week of May.