The Senegalese National Lottery (LONASE) and the Dakar Integrated Addiction Care Centre (CEPIAD) have announced a partnership to jointly tackle gambling addiction by providing care to those affected.
Toussaint Manga, Director General of LONASE, stated: “This signing marks an important step in reinforcing our commitment to responsible gambling and public health.
“Regulating gambling activities is now a public responsibility that goes beyond purely economic considerations. Providing care for those suffering from gambling addiction, both in general and for individuals, is therefore a major challenge for our society.”
Professor Idrissa Ba, Coordinator of CEPIAD, added: “I truly commend LONASE’s efforts to work with CEPIAD and addiction specialists to better regulate gambling and protect the population.’’
According to Manga, gambling cannot be separated from active policies aimed at preventing problem behaviours and maintaining a constant commitment to social responsibility.
Under the partnership, LONASE will contribute to the continuing education of healthcare professionals and teams specialising in addiction treatment, while providing financial or material support for the care of individuals suffering from gambling addiction.
LONASE will also help develop awareness materials and organise public information campaigns. The initiative will strengthen the training of LONASE staff and its network to increase awareness of addiction issues.
Senegal, which is facing significant debt, announced new gambling taxes as part of its economic recovery plan last year. On 1 November 2025, Senegal began collecting a 20% tax on all gambling winnings.
Following this, in December 2025, local bettors staged a nationwide 72-hour strike to protest the winnings tax, which most major players called "outright exploitation"
The Dakar Integrated Addiction Care Centre (CEPIAD) is a specialised health and research centre based in Dakar, Senegal, focused on the prevention, treatment as well as the study of addiction-related disorders
