Nineteen suspected illegal lotto operators, popularly called “banker-to-banker”, have been arrested in a special operation at Swedru in the Central Region. The Central Regional Marketing and Sales Officer of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Mr. Ebo Koomson, said the activities of the illegal operators were negatively affecting the operations of the NLA. He explained that the NLA was the only agency tasked to license any organisation to operate a lottery. Mr. Koomson said it was wrong for people to operate illegal lottery because they did not pay anything in the form of taxes to the state. “They pirate on our drawn numbers and operate at no cost. They are, therefore, able to pay higher for the wins,” he said. He expressed the hope that the suspects would be put before court in due course after the necessary investigations had been completed. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana