NLA pilots two sports products

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Mahama Ayariga, says there are many youth who have great potential in sports but the country is yet to invest in them due to lack of resources.

He, therefore, called for diverse ways through which resources could be sourced to help develop sports in the country.

The minister made the call in Accra when he, together with the acting Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Brigadier General Martin Ahiaglo, launched two sports pilot products to be organised by the NLA.

The products, ‘Sports lottery’ and ‘Mobile lottery,’ would be operated for a month on a pilot basis to enable the NLA assess their performance and realign them, if necessary, before they would be formally launched early next year.

Sports for development

 Mr Ayariga said developed economies such as the United Kingdom and Canada had used lotteries to develop and support sports in their respective countries.

He, therefore, expressed the hope that when launched on a commercial basis, the sports lottery would yield a lot of benefits for the country.

Mr Ayariga said it was envisaged that the sports lottery would be one of the major sources of finance for sports development in the country.

Mr Ayariga said the role of sports in nation building could not be overemphasised, adding that sports, if well managed, “can engender national cohesion, foster national pride and above all, ensure a healthy population and thus promote development.”

New products

The acting Director General of NLA, Brigadier Gen. Ahiaglo said the two new products were being introduced in response to changes in the technological landscape, market trends and the business environment in general.

He explained that the new additions to the NLA’s lotteries were in response to some challenges that were being faced in the industry such as competition from “Banker to Banker” operators, high wins, and unattractive and restrictive distribution channels.

 Explaining how the two lotteries would work, Brigadier Gen. Ahiaglo said the mobile lottery platform would compete favourably with the existing sports betting games currently in the system and being operated by individuals.

He said the lottery would allow patrons to register and download the NLA’s 5/90 fixed odds game applications onto their smartphones and play the games using funds from their mobile wallet.

The second game, which he said was a collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, would be available on two platforms, which are the existing point of sale terminals network operated by the Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs) and the mobile lottery platform.

Writer's email-rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh