Cease Live Lotto Draw On GTV Now Or Face Our Wrath -NLA Warns

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has sounded a stern warning to the managers of Alpha Lotto Limited, to immediately cease the live lotto draw on Ghana Television (GTV), and also stop the operation of the digital short code *896# in the country.

Failure to comply with the directives of the Authority, according to rejoinder copied to Soireenews.com today Tuesday, February 16, 2021, would attract the necessary sanctions including revocation of the company's license under Act 844.

The rejoinder which was signed and issued from the Public Relations Unit of NLA was to respond to the statement emanating from the Management of Alpha Lotto Limited that Alpha Lotto Not Among 'NLA's Illegal Lottery Operators.

According to the rejoinder, National Lottery Authority has taken notice of the above statement emanating from the Management of Alpha Lotto Limited.

In order to set the records straight on the matter, the management of the National Lottery Authority stated categorically that, Alpha Lotto Limited was only Licensed by NLA to operate Lotto under the Veterans Administration, Ghana Act, 2012(Act 844) dated 1st day of July 2020 regulated by Act 722.

It said Alpha Lotto Limited under the TERMS and CONDITIONS of the License issued by NLA to the Company has NO RIGHT to operate its OWN GAMES without Authorization from the National Lottery Authority(NLA) as the Regulator of the Lottery Industry.  As it stands now, Alpha Lotto Limited has NO APPROVAL from NLA to operate its own games.

The rejoinder pointed out that there are processes, procedures, criteria, and requirements an Operator must fulfill BEFORE it can operate its own games under strict compliance to the rules and regulations of the National Lottery Authority(NLA).

It stressed that the Alpha Lotto Limited has no right under the License issued to the Company to operate its own independent platform without approval from the National Lottery Authority as the Regulator.

"Every Licensed Operator under Act 844 is mandated to INTEGRATE its platform into the NLA's Platform for Monitoring and supervision of their activities as part of the TERMS and CONDITIONS of the License issued. This would enable both parties to properly account for the Revenue Sharing Agreement in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the License issued to Alpha Lotto Limited and all Lotto Operators Licensed by NLA under Act 844," it explained.

The rejoinder asserted that Alpha Lotto Limited has no right under the terms and conditions of its License under Act 844 to market its games through shortcode 896. Alpha Lotto Limited is seriously in breach of the Terms and conditions of its license under Act 844.

It argued that there is nowhere in the Agreement that Alpha Lotto Limited can market its games through shortcodes.

It added that there is nowhere in the agreement that Alpha Lotto Limited can conduct its own independent Draw without supervision from the National Lottery Authority(NLA).

"As part of the agreement, Terms, and Conditions of the license issued under Act 844, a Draw Committee must be constituted by the NLA to monitor all Draws. So far no Draw Committee has been constituted by NLA to supervise the Draws of Alpha Lotto Limited.

"We would like to state again that, Alpha Lotto Limited has NO LEGAL RIGHTS under Act 844, the license issued to the Company by NLA to market independent lottery products using digital devices(end-to-end)," it stressed.

The rejoinder cautioned Alpha Lotto Limited to operate within the terms and conditions of its License issued under Act 844 and stop hiding behind its license under Act 844 to operate illegal services as well as misinforming the general public.

Below is the rejoinder from the NLA

Koryekpor Awlesu/Greater Accra RegionalCorrespondent