The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has appealed to members of the Association of Lotto Marketing Companies to remain calm as its Board of Directors takes the necessary steps and actions to address the alleged illegal operation of *959# Mobile Game.
According to the NLA, it’s Director-General has made several efforts including writing letters to the National Communications Authority (NCA), Keed Ghana Limited, MTN, Vodafone and AirtelTigo to shut down the short code *959# operating 5/90 lotto in the country but to no avail.
The NLA maintains that the *959# Mobile Game is being operated illegally because it has been duly licensed by the National Lottery Authority.
Currently, Management of National Lottery Authority and the national leadership of Association of Lotto Marketing Companies have set up a Joint Working Committee to deal with the illegal short code of *959# operating 5/90 lotto by MTN, Vodafone, AirtelTigo and Keed Ghana Limited.
A statement from the Public Relations Unit of NLA said the Joint Working Committee “would consider suing MTN, Vodafone, AirtelTigo and Keed Ghana Limited if they fail to shut down the short code as soon as possible.”
“The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has not issued license to Keed Ghana Limited to operate 5/90 Lotto Game online and via short code *959#. The staking public is hereby cautioned that the NLA 5/90 Mobile Game via Mobile USSD *959# and on online platform has not been duly licensed by the National Lottery Authority (NLA) as at now. When licensed, the Authority would officially launch and communicate same to the staking public but for now *959# Mobile/Online Game is operating illegally at the detriment of our Lotto Marketing Companies who are the backbone and sales force of the Authority.”
The NLA in its statement lamented that the operation of the *959# Mobile/Online Game is directly and indirectly adversely affecting the sales of the Lotto Marketing Companies and subsequently affecting the revenue generation of the NLA.
“The National Lottery Authority (NLA) would like to appeal to MTN, Vodafone, AirtelTigo and Keed Ghana Limited to shut down the USSD *959# currently illegally operating lottery until a license is duly acquired under Act 722.”
“Keed Ghana Limited, MTN, Vodafone and AirtelTigo have a patriotic duty to the State to protect the core business of National Lottery Authority and our Lotto Marketing Companies by shutting down the illegal USSD *959# with immediate effect. Accordingly, the staking public is cautioned to discontinue patronising *959# Lotto Game on MTN, Vodafone, AirtelTigo and Keed Online Platform,” the statement added.