Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Director-General of Ghana’s National Lottery Authority (NLA), has called for enhanced international cooperation to combat illegal gambling, warning that it leads to significant revenue losses in both Africa and Europe.
Salam has called on members of the European Lotteries (EL), the African Lotteries Association (ALA) and other stakeholders in the gambling industry to strengthen the fight against illegal gambling.
He addressed over 200 participants from Europe and Africa at the 2026 EL Industry Days, held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 7 to 10 June.
In addressing the issue, Salam pointed out that African countries are losing millions of dollars due to illegal lottery activities, with South Africa suffering the most, facing losses exceeding $30bn. Additionally, Ghana is losing over $85m annually.
He outlined several solutions Ghana is exploring to address illegal lottery operators. These include the use of technology to combat scammers and lottery syndicates, the introduction of more sophisticated POS machines for retailers and efforts to address gaps in enforcing responsible gaming rules.
He also mentioned strengthening the National Lotto Act through Parliament and increasing the use of corporate social responsibility initiatives or good causes.
Salam stated: “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 of a nation loses millions that could help improve the lives of its citizenry.”
The 2026 EL Industry Days, themed “Lotteries Bridging Continents,” aim to promote collaboration between Europe and Africa, sharing best practices on the opportunities and challenges in the industry.
EL President Romana Girandon urged members to embrace the latest responsible gambling practices and noted that EL is developing a new RG Framework to support member bodies across continents.
In February, Kaizen Gaming launched its online sports betting and casino brand, Betano, in Ghana
