The National Lottery Authority (NLA) of Liberia officially introduced Regulation No. 005 of 2026, a comprehensive framework to modernize and tighten oversight of the country’s gaming and lottery sector.
Regulation No. 005 of 2026 establishes real-time monitoring, strengthens gaming-machine and advertising controls, updates licensing fees and capital requirements, and creates a levy to support social programs.
The regulation was adopted by the NLA Board of Directors on 29 April 2026 and published in the Official Gazette on 1 October 2026, following its signature by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It takes effect upon adoption and publication. Issued under the National Lottery Authority Act of 2014 and in implementation of the NLA’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, it addresses the growth of digital platforms, online lottery services, and mobile-money gaming.
Real-time oversight through a central system
The regulation directs the NLA to procure, deploy, and administer a Central Lottery Management System (CLMS) to monitor, audit, and report on gaming transactions in real time. The system is intended to meet internationally recognized standards, including those of the African Lottery Association, the World Lottery Association, and the Gaming Regulators European Forum.
Once the Director General declares the CLMS operational, connection will become a condition of every operating licence. Operators will have 180 days to connect, although the Board may set a shorter transition period. CLMS fees are to reflect the level of integration required; operators using a centralized server to provide the required data through a single integration will not incur individual per-terminal fees.
The regulation also requires cybersecurity measures consistent with ISO/IEC 27001 or an equivalent standard. Operators must report material data breaches, system failures, or unauthorized interference within 24 hours of detection. Operators must retain essential financial, transactional, anti-money-laundering, player-account, licensing, and compliance records for at least five years.
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Controls on gaming machines
Regulation No. 005 sets requirements for importing and operating gaming machines. Importers must provide a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, and Clean Report of Findings. The regulation also requires machines to meet NLA standards and be operated and maintained in accordance with the Authority’s guidelines.
Licensed operators must establish regular maintenance schedules, including inspections, software updates, and timely repairs. The stated aim is to support the integrity and fairness of gaming operations and guard against tampering.
Advertising and consumer protection
The regulation sets standards for gaming advertising across television, radio, print, outdoor, digital, social media, SMS, email, and in-venue materials. Advertising must not target minors, imply guaranteed winnings, present gambling as a solution to financial hardship, encourage compulsive play, misstate the odds, or use deceptive urgency.
Advertisements must include a responsible-gambling message, such as “Play Responsibly. Must be 18 or over,” an accurate statement of the odds of winning the top prize, or a note that odds vary by game, and a reference to the NLA’s player-support helpline or another approved support resource. The regulation also sets requirements for how these disclosures appear in broadcast, print, and digital advertising.
Other provisions address age-gating for digital advertisements, paid-influencer disclosures, sponsorships and events aimed at people under 18, and the protection of licensed brands from impersonation. Licensed operators must obtain an annual advertising permit. The Authority may conduct random audits and, where prior clearance is required, must determine an application within five business days.
Updated fees, capital requirements, and levy
Appendix III-A replaces the fee schedule under Regulation No. 004. Appendix III-B sets minimum paid-up capital requirements by licence class and requires operators to maintain a bank balance equivalent to at least 25% of paid-up capital at the time of licence issuance or renewal.
The regulation also establishes a Good-Cause Levy of up to 1% of an operator’s gross gaming revenue (GGR), at a rate set by the Board. The levy is assessed on operator revenue, not on player deposits, stakes, wagers, or winnings. It is payable monthly, with the gaming activities and licences of the same legal entity aggregated as one operator.
Proceeds are directed to the Responsible Gambling and Social Contribution Fund. Permitted uses include support for people with disabilities, older people, and orphans, treatment and counselling for gambling-related harm, research into gambling’s social impact, community development in areas hosting significant gaming operations; and public-awareness campaigns. Administrative costs are capped at 5% of levy receipts in any financial year. The Fund’s audited accounts are to be published on the NLA website and submitted to the Board and relevant government authority.
Strategic partnerships and prediction markets
The regulation authorizes the Director General to solicit, negotiate, and administer strategic partnerships for the national lottery, prediction markets, and related products approved by the Board. The national lottery scope includes draw-based, instant, scratch, numerical, and keno-style games, as well as a national online lottery platform.
Partnerships must operate under an NLA licence or appointment and preserve the Authority’s statutory regulatory powers and the Government’s residual interest. The regulation calls for a competitive, documented selection process unless the Board authorizes another approach by reasoned resolution. Material terms require Board ratification before an agreement becomes binding. Partners, directors, and owners of 10% or more are subject to fit-and-proper vetting, including disclosure of politically exposed individuals, and partnerships must report to the Board quarterly.
Prediction markets may operate only under a Prediction Market Operator Licence or a Board-ratified partnership. Contracts relating to the death of a named person, the commission of a crime, or the outcome of a Liberian election are prohibited. Player funds must be kept separate from operating capital.
Corporate Social Responsibility policy
The NLA’s management has been authorized to develop and consult on a Corporate Social Responsibility and Welfare Policy for licensed operators, then submit it to the Board within 90 days of the regulation’s commencement, unless the deadline is extended.
The policy is to address annual CSR and welfare plans, public reporting, priority areas, and independent verification of outcomes. Priority areas include support for people with disabilities, responsible gambling, youth and education, community health, sports development, and economic localization. The policy may not impose an additional mandatory levy or percentage-based contribution beyond those authorized by the regulation.
The NLA is the statutory body responsible for regulating, licensing, and supervising lottery and gaming activities in Liberia. Regulation No. 005 sets out a broad framework intended to strengthen oversight, protect consumers, and direct a share of gaming revenue toward social programs.
General Hon. Peter L. Solo, NLA Director, said: “The gaming sector is changing rapidly, with digital platforms, online lottery services, and mobile-money ecosystems reshaping how people play. Regulation 005 gives Liberia a modern, transparent, and enforceable framework that protects players, rewards responsible operators, and directs a share of gaming revenue back to the communities that need it most.”
