LICENSING OF PRIVATE LOTTO OPERATORS (PLOS)
It has not all been gloomy for the NLA as some thorny issues persist. Activities of fraudsters who impersonate Staff on WhatsApp and Facebook to solicit for money in exchange for purported winning lotto numbers is a bane the Authority needs to step up efforts in fighting.
Another challenge that bedevils NLA is the activities of illegal lottery operators who have dominated the market.
To help curb the situation, Mr. Awuku adopted a strategy begun by his predecessor to license all Private Lotto Operators in a bid to sanitize the lottery industry.
NLA, therefore, issued a release in September 2021 for all unlicensed Lotto Operators, interested entities and/or individuals who wish to be registered and subsequently licensed to operate and sell Lotto products, to pick up Pre-Qualification Application Forms from any of NLA’s Regional Offices for completion and submission.
After going through the processes, 12 companies have been duly licensed to operate under the frameworks of the National Lotto Act 2006 (Act 722) and the Veterans Administration (VAG) Act 2012 (Act 844).
PLOs operating the 5/90 Game under Act 722 were required to pay an amount of One million, five hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GHS 1,500,000.00)Â while those operating under Act 844 paid an amount of Five hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GHS 500,000.00).
Those operating both paid an amount of Two million Ghana cedis (GHS 2,000,000).
 LIST OF OPERATORS UNDER ACT 722
- ZACDOW COMPANY LIMITED
- GLOVITA LOTTERY LIMITED
- ZINBAX CONSTRUCTION LIMITED
- WULUCKY GHANA LIMITED
- MIWO KAKRA YEBEDI NTI Y LIMITED
- FROM HOME COMPANY LIMITED
- ACCURATE GIANT LIMITED
- SADACO HOPE LOTTERY GHANA LIMITED
LIST OF OPERATORS UNDER ACT 844
- OBIRI ASARE AND SONS LIMITED
- FORTUNE SYNERGY LIMITED
- FROM HOME COMPANY LIMITED
- WULUCKY GHANA LIMITED
With this in place, NLA’s force task force in collaboration with the security services continues to clamp down on defaulters of the law.  NLA is working on establishing new branches in parts of the country where it has no presence to rake in revenue and deflate activities of illegal lottery operators.
  OPTIONS FOR REDEEMING WINNING TICKETS
Additionally, to ensure that its cherished patrons promptly redeem their wins, NLA has published several options its cherished patrons can present and/or redeem winning lotto tickets within fifteen (15) days after the draw.
- Dial USSD short code *389*1000# instantly after the draw, for wins up to One Thousand Two Hundred Ghana cedis (GHS 1,200.00) only.
- Visit Prize Payment Centers located within NLA’s offices nationwide, after the draw for wins up to Twelve Thousand Ghana cedis (GHS 12,000.00)
- Visit NLA’s Partner Banks between the seventh to the fifteenth day (7th – 15th)after the draw for wins up to Twelve Thousand Ghana cedis (GHS 12,000.00)
- Present winning tickets including petition tickets, irrespective of the amount, within fifteen days after the draw at NLA’s offices nationwide.
 60TH ANNIVERSARY AND ALA COFERENCE
On assumption of office, Mr. Awuku embarked on some trips in the sub region, i.e. Ivory Coast, Nigeria and subsequently Morocco. Â The objective was to find out what they are doing differently in their operations, learn from it and deepen bilateral relations with them. Â The Authority has also played host to the Ivoirians, Nigerians and a delegation from Niger.
NLA has now been re-accepted in the body of the African Lottery Association (ALA) and working on its certification.  NLA has also won the bid to host the African Lottery Association Conference on Responsible Gaming in December, which coincides with its 60th anniversary celebration.
Ultimately, one cannot lose sight of the fact that in the past one year, the National Lottery Authority in spite of the challenges it grapples with has made great strides under the leadership of its Director-General, Mr. Samuel Awuku and has changed the face of NLA.
