The Director General of the National Lottery Authority, Sammy Awuku is optimistic the leadership of lottery institutions across the globe would implement resolutions to uphold best practices within the lottery and gaming industry.

According to him, this will protect minors from the game as well as help with responsible advertising.

Speaking to Joy Business on the sidelines of the African Lottery Conference, Mr. Awuku said his outfit is committed to exhibiting best practices in the lottery game.

“Responsible gaming is very important to the development of lottery on the continent and I believe the time to have audacious conversations around the table is now, thus the seminar couldn’t have occurred at a more opportune time.  I am hopeful that Director Generals and the leadership of lottery institutions gathered here will be committed to boldly implementing the resolutions that we will arrive at today, to uphold best practices particularly in protecting our minors from the game and in advertising responsibly”.

Mr. Awuku said while generating revenue for national development and giving back to the communities through good causes, all stakeholder should take a keen interest in the lives of the individuals whose stakes bring in the funds, “to enable us to help them”.

He therefore pointed out that formulating responsible gaming policies, setting up an advisory bureau and consistently educating patrons are but a few measures that can be instituted to advance this cause.

For his part, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, said the seminar was very necessary as it provides a platform for a discussion of the fundamentals of responsible gaming as well as for development, evaluation and sustenance of responsible gaming programmes for relevant stakeholders in the gaming fraternity.

“As Ghana's principal legal adviser, I say that responsible gaming enjoins for development and application of policies and requirements to the gaming industry in a manner that offers a safe user environment and also protects people from the possible negative consequences of gaming. I identify certain elements of responsible gaming”.

He further said that a responsible gaming industry offers protection for the personal data and financial details of the players, thus a reliable iGaming software platform must be created for players to safely deposit, transfer and withdraw money.

He continued that the duty to make gaming responsible and to create a secure environment for participants is a common enterprise for all service providers, online operators and regulators of the industry, adding, “We cannot relent on same. A strict adherence to these principles will avert unnecessary losses”.