NLA Enforces Two Week Shutdown to Curb Illegal Slot Machines in Liberia
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) of Liberia initiated a nationwide enforcement operation to shutdown illegal gambling operations, while addressing underage gambling across Liberia.
The primary goal of the campaign was an initiative intended to halt the unchecked proliferation of mini-slot machines and reinforce responsible gaming standards. To achieve this, the NLA has ordered a two-week nationwide shutdown of all mini-slot machine operations. This temporary freeze is designed to compel operators to regularize their status and align with national gaming regulations.
Underage gambling has recently surged across Africa. To combat this, the NLA has highlighted the rapid growth of betting centers in crowded areas as a major risk to children, who often lack the maturity to handle gambling risks. Early exposure can lead to addiction, school dropout, and social instability, while minors may also face financial hardship or turn to crime to fund their habits. In a country already struggling with education, children spending time in betting shops instead of classrooms harm their development, weaken the economy, and disrupt family structures.
Read Also: Liberia Broadcasting System Faces Senate Probe Over Alleged Gambling Deal
The recent operational enforcement in Lofa County, led by NLA Operations, Inspectorate and compliance enforcement officers, which involved raids, confiscations, and sanctions, exemplify this crackdown. Operators who violate these rules face heavy fines, license revocation, business closure, prosecution, and strict accountability for allowing minors to access licensed games.
The two-week shutdown remains in effect across the country, with similar enforcement efforts planned in other counties to ensure full compliance by operators. By balancing the economic contributions of the gaming industry with a strong moral responsibility to protect the ‘social fabric of our communities’, the NLA demonstrates its commitment to maintaining a well-regulated, transparent and a responsible gaming environment for all Liberians.
While enforcement is urgent, the NLA recognizes that lasting change requires more than shutting down illegal machines. To reduce underage gambling, the NLA advocates for a comprehensive approach that includes public awareness campaigns, collaboration between county authorities and local leaders in Lofa County with enforcement teams, efforts by parents and guardians to discourage minors from engaging in gambling activities, full compliance by licensed operators with the Ministry of Education, anonymous reporting hotlines, and data-driven enforcement through mapping gambling hotspots for targeted action.
