Senegal’s lottery chairman on navigating Africa’s iGaming market
Africa’s iGaming industry is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, and Senegal’s lottery sector is a testament to this growth, with a reported H1 2025 revenue of 20.7 billion XOF ($37.28 million). As a result, the need for proper regulation is important and, Loterie Nationale Sénégalaise’s (LONASE) Chairman, Moustapha Camara, echoes that sentiment. “My focus is on creating a unified regulatory ‘language’ for the continent,” he says.
LONASE is the official state-owned national lottery operator in Senegal, managing a wide range of gambling and betting activities nationwide. Chairman, Moustapha Camara, shares with SiGMA News how authorities balance industry growth, technological advancement, and increased market penetration with the need for compliance and player protection.
SiGMA: As Chairman of LONASE, how do you ensure that there is a balance between strong governance oversight and the need to drive innovation and growth?
M. Camara: The balance lies in viewing governance not as a handbrake, but as the tracks upon which innovation runs safely. My approach is “Compliance-by-Design.” By establishing rigorous, transparent frameworks from the outset, we create a stable environment where technical innovation can flourish without compromising our institutional integrity. Effective oversight ensures that every growth initiative is sustainable and aligned with international standards, thereby attracting high-calibre global partners to Senegal’s iGaming market.
SiGMA: You have spoken about blockchain and emerging technologies. How is LONASE approaching digital transformation to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven gaming environment?
M. Camara: We are shifting from being a traditional operator to a technology-led organisation. Drawing on my background in high-scale gaming architecture, we are exploring blockchain for its immutable ledger capabilities to enhance transparency of RNG (Random Number Generation) and payout security. Our goal is to build a “Mobile-First” ecosystem that integrates seamlessly with local payment rails like Mobile Money, ensuring we meet the modern player where they are.
SiGMA: LONASE is a state-owned operator. How do you navigate competition from private and international operators while maintaining its public mandate and regulatory responsibilities?
M. Camara: We navigate competition in Senegal’s market by offering a superior, safer, and more localised iGaming product. While international operators bring scale, LONASE brings local trust and cultural relevance. We leverage our regulatory mandate to ensure a level playing field where all operators, private or public, adhere to the same high standards of AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance. At the same time, our own digital evolution allows us to compete on user experience and technical reliability.
SiGMA: How does LONASE, as a state-owned operator, approach its commitments of promoting responsible gaming and player protection in the industry?
M. Camara: Responsible gaming is a core pillar of our transformation. We are implementing sophisticated digital tools to enable proactive player protection, including self-exclusion registries and automated alerts for high-risk betting patterns.
SiGMA: How are you working to harmonise regulatory standards across diverse markets in your role with the African Lotteries and Gaming Association, an association dedicated to uniting prominent entities within the lotteries and gaming sector?
M. Camara: My focus is on creating a unified regulatory “language” for the continent. Through the African Lotteries and Gaming Association (ALGA) CEOs’ Forum, we are working to bridge the gap between the Francophone Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) and Anglophone jurisdictions. We are prioritising shared standards for digital monitoring, cross-border jackpot liquidity, and ethical governance. The goal is to make Africa a unified, attractive, and secure destination for global investment.
Looking at Moustapha Camara’s insights, rapid growth without the right safeguards, could undermine Africa’s iGaming industry. Senegal’s LONASE is one of the continent’s state-owned operators actively pushing for harmonisation in the iGaming market. Through collaboration, technological adaptation, and a strong focus on player protection, regulators can help solidify Africa’s position in iGaming.
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