The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has called for greater international collaboration to combat illegal gambling, warning that the growing menace continues to deprive countries of critical revenue and development opportunities.
He made the appeal while addressing more than 200 delegates from Europe and Africa at the 2026 European Lotteries (EL) Industry Days held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from June 7 to 10.
The event, themed “Lotteries Bridging Continents,” brought together industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss best practices, technological innovation, responsible gaming, and strategies for tackling illegal gambling activities.
Addressing participants, Abdul-Salam highlighted the economic consequences of unregulated gambling operations, stating that they continue to drain public resources and undermine national development efforts.
He cited Ghana, Benin and South Africa as countries significantly affected by the challenge, noting that South Africa loses more than $30 billion annually to illegal gambling activities, while Ghana records losses exceeding GH¢1 billion, equivalent to about $85 million.
According to him, such losses reduce funds available for key sectors such as education, healthcare and youth development.
He explained that the National Lottery Authority is implementing several measures to curb illegal gambling in Ghana, including the deployment of advanced technology to detect fraud, disrupt lottery syndicates and improve monitoring systems.
The NLA, he said, is also introducing modern point-of-sale devices for retailers, strengthening responsible gaming measures and reviewing the National Lotto Act to close regulatory loopholes.
“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 loses vital revenue,” he stated.
President of European Lotteries, Romana Girandon, underscored the importance of responsible gaming in the lottery industry, revealing that the organisation is developing a new responsible gaming framework to guide its members.
She also commended member organisations for contributing more than €29 billion to social causes and community development initiatives.
Secretary-General of the African Lotteries Association, Omar Skalli, noted that both Africa and Europe face similar challenges in the gaming sector and described the gathering as an important platform for collaboration and the exchange of practical solutions.
The event concluded with discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between lottery operators across the two continents while promoting sustainable and responsible gaming practices.
Story by: Stephen Mireku
