The Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) has defended the contribution of licensed Private Lotto Operators (PLOs) to the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and the Ghanaian economy, arguing that comparisons with KGL Technology Limited’s reported payments to the State present a distorted picture of the lottery industry.
A statement issued in Accra by the Association said the 29 licensed Private Lotto Operators operating under the NLA remained major contributors to employment creation, grassroots economic activity and revenue generation, and should be assessed on the basis of their total economic impact rather than headline revenue figures.
The Association contended that comparisons between KGL’s reported GH¢173 million contribution and the combined GH¢44.9 million licence fees paid by private operators to the NLA in 2025 failed to consider the fundamentally different operating conditions under which the two entities function.
According to GLOA, while the 29 operators function as licensed lotto operators under the National Lotto Act, KGL operates as a collaborator of the NLA under a separate arrangement.
“GLOA maintained that because the two entities operate under different structures, direct comparisons of revenue contributions without considering their respective operating environments are inherently flawed,” the statement said.
A major concern raised by GLOA was what it described as KGL’s exclusive access to a dedicated USSD platform, which it said provides the company with access to a large segment of the lottery market through mobile-based transactions.
The Association argued that market access was a key driver of revenue generation and that exclusive access to a dedicated USSD platform substantially expands transaction volumes while reducing operational complexity.
Unlike operators relying primarily on digital channels, GLOA said Private Lotto Operators maintain extensive nationwide physical networks requiring substantial investments in Point of Sale terminals, lotto kiosks, transportation systems, maintenance services and administrative infrastructure.
The Association said operators also recruit, train and support thousands of lotto writers, agents, supervisors and sub-agents nationwide, with these investments accounting for about 60 per cent of operating costs before customer winnings, taxes and regulatory obligations are considered.
Despite these operational costs, GLOA said Private Lotto Operators continue to make substantial contributions to the NLA, disclosing that each of the 29 licensed operators pays an annual licence fee of GH¢1.5 million.
Beyond these payments, it said operators also contribute through taxes paid to the State, payments to the Good Causes Foundation and compliance with numerous regulatory obligations.
The Association said perhaps the most overlooked aspect of the private lottery sector was its role as a major source of employment, with more than one million Ghanaians deriving direct or indirect livelihoods from the activities of Private Lotto Operators.
The nationwide network includes lotto writers, agents, supervisors, sub-agents, transport operators, maintenance personnel and other support workers whose incomes depend on the industry’s continued growth.
The Association said lotto writers receive commissions equivalent to 25 per cent of gross revenue while supervising agents earn an additional five per cent, injecting significant amounts of money into local economies and providing sustainable incomes for thousands of households.
Beyond employment, GLOA argued that the lottery industry stimulates local economic activity through demand for kiosks, equipment, transportation, maintenance services and other operational requirements that support numerous small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Association, therefore, calling on the government, regulators and policymakers to adopt a broader framework for evaluating contributions within the lottery industry, taking into account employment creation, taxes, infrastructure investments, operational costs, market access and long-term industry sustainability.
GLOA maintained that private lotto operators had consistently supported the National Lottery Authority while making substantial investments in jobs and economic development, adding that the future of Ghana’s lottery sector should be guided by policies that recognise the full economic value generated by all stakeholders.
GNA
