Ghana’s National Lottery Authority (NLA) is set to end manual paper-based lottery staking from 1 August 2026, requiring all licensed Private Lotto Operators (PLOs) to conduct lottery sales through electronic Point of Sale terminals as part of the country’s ongoing digital transformation of the lottery sector.
In a public announcement issued on 23 July, the Authority said manual paper-based lottery operations must cease from 1 August, marking the end of the two-year transition period provided to licensed Private Lotto Operators under licence agreements signed on 30 August 2024.
The move follows the formal signing of a strategic partnership between the NLA and Fidelity Bank PLC on 21 July, which will support the nationwide deployment of new electronic POS terminals to replace manual lottery operations and ageing infrastructure.
Manual paper staking to end on 1 August
As per the NLA’s official notice, licensed Private Lotto Operators are required to end paper-based lottery operations from 1 August 2026. The Authority said the transition period established under licence agreements will end on that date, requiring operators to conduct lottery sales through electronic Point of Sale (POS) terminals.
The announcement also warned that Private Lotto Operators, agents and writers who fail to comply with the directive will not be permitted to continue lottery operations.
In addition, operators that have not settled their regulatory fees by 1 August risk being removed from the list of licensed operators.
The public notice, signed by the NLA’s management, stated that the Authority’s directive forms part of its regulatory requirements for all licensed lottery operators.
Fidelity Bank partnership supports nationwide rollout
The enforcement of electronic lottery staking comes days after the NLA officially signed a partnership agreement with Fidelity Bank PLC to modernise Ghana’s lottery infrastructure.
The agreement, signed on 21 July at the Authority’s boardroom, introduces a nationwide rollout of modern POS terminals intended to replace outdated equipment that has been in use for more than a decade.
According to the NLA, the existing lottery infrastructure has been affected by obsolete Point of Sale Terminals, unreliable 2G network connectivity and instant prize payment limits of only GHS1,200.
The Authority said the new partnership will introduce upgraded terminals capable of improving operational efficiency, reducing business losses and strengthening the NLA’s competitiveness alongside licensed Private Lotto Operators.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Director General Mohammed Abdul-Salam described the partnership as a significant step towards modernising the Authority’s operations through improved network infrastructure, increased productivity and better service delivery.
Fidelity Bank Deputy Managing Director Kwabena Boateng said the agreement marked the beginning of the rollout phase, which is expected to enhance services for lottery customers across the country.
During the ceremony, Abdul-Salam reiterated that paper-based lottery operations would be discontinued from 1 August and reminded licensed operators that compliance with the transition to electronic POS terminals is a condition of their licensing agreements. He said operators that fail to migrate to the electronic system risk losing their licences.
Digital lottery system aims to improve oversight
The NLA said the digitalisation programme is intended to improve transparency, strengthen regulatory oversight and enhance operational efficiency in the lottery sector.
The NLA said replacing paper-based staking with electronic POS terminals is intended to improve revenue tracking, reduce operational leakages and strengthen accountability within the lottery sector.
The new system will also increase the instant prize payout limit available through POS terminals, allowing players to receive winnings more quickly. Larger prize payments will be processed through Fidelity Bank, providing immediate settlement for qualifying winners.
According to the Authority, earlier attempts to modernise the lottery system encountered operational challenges, leading to the adoption of a partnership model involving private sector investment in new POS infrastructure. The NLA said the project follows almost a year of technical planning, infrastructure upgrades and commercial negotiations aimed at replacing ageing lottery terminals and improving nationwide connectivity.
The Authority said ending manual paper-based staking forms part of its objective to achieve fully digital lottery sales by the third quarter of 2026.
Latest step in broader lottery reforms
The decision to discontinue paper-based lottery operations follows a series of regulatory reforms introduced by the NLA this year. Earlier in July, the Authority began nationwide compliance inspections after completing a mandatory registration exercise for agents and writers operating under licensed Private Lotto Operators.
The NLA, in partnership with the Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana, is conducting inspections as part of its “No Sticker, No Sales” enforcement campaign. The exercise checks that lottery vendors have completed mandatory registration and that registered agents display official compliance stickers at their kiosks and sales outlets.
The registration programme began in April after being announced in March, with the Authority making clear that unregistered agents would not be permitted to sell lottery products once the exercise concluded.
The wider reform programme is intended to modernise Ghana’s lottery sector and strengthen regulatory supervision. Earlier this year, Abdul-Salam said the NLA aims to transition all lottery sales to digital platforms by the third quarter of 2026 to improve real-time transaction monitoring and address illegal lottery activities, including the unauthorised use of official lottery numbers.
As part of the digital transformation programme, the Authority has also partnered with KGL Technology Limited to operate its online lottery platform, allowing players to participate through smartphones, basic mobile phones and a dedicated short code, while also planning to expand the number of daily televised lottery draws.
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