NLA Shuts Down *896# Short Code of Alpha Lotto

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) in collaboration with the National Communications Authority (NCA) have successfully shut down the illegal short code *896# operated by Alpha Lotto Limited.

Alpha Lotto Limited was duly licensed by NLA under Act 844 to operate lotto via Point of Sale Terminals regulated by Act 722.

However, Alpha Lotto Limited started operating in breach of Terms and Conditions of the License issued by NLA to the Company.

There are different classes of Licenses that are issued by NLA.

We have companies which have been licensed by NLA to operate lotto via USSD (Short Code) and Web.

Lotto Marketing Companies and Private Lotto Operators including Alpha Lotto Limited were licensed by NLA to operate lotto via Point of Sale Terminals.

Alpha Lotto Limited license under Act 844 NEVER covered the operations of Short Code.

All Companies licensed by NLA have NO RIGHT to operate new games and conduct independent lotto Draws without a Draw Committee fully constituted by NLA in accordance with the laws.

It is important to also state that, the National Lottery Authority (NLA) has officially written to the Director General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to indefinitely suspend the illegal Lotto Draws of Alpha Lotto Limited with immediate effect. It is the hope of NLA that management of GBC/GTV will respect and enforce the directives of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) by stopping the telecast of the illegal Lotto Draws of Alpha Lotto Limited as soon as possible to avoid being sued by NLA.

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) is cautioning the Private Lotto Operators and their Agents to operate within the Terms and Conditions of their respective licenses.

Last week, the NLA issued a statement which explained that Alpha Lotto Limited has NO RIGHT under the TERMS AND CONDITIONS of its License under Act 844 to market its games through short code 896. Alpha Lotto Limited is seriously in breach of the Terms and conditions of its license under Act 844. There is nowhere in the Agreement that Alpha Lotto Limited can market its games through short code.

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

The NLA said 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).

“The Authority would like to caution 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.

“The Authority would like to further caution Alpha Lotto Limited to cease the LIVE DRAW on GTV, and Stop the operation of the digital short code *896# with immediate effect. Failure to comply with the directives of the Authority would attract the necessary sanctions including revocation of the company’s license under Act 844”, the statement from NLA added.

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. 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 NLA.

 

*Issued by:Public Relations Unit of NLA*