Liberia’s gambling oversight plan faces scrutiny over CMS contract
Agra Technologies LLC, which ultimately won the contract, was not incorporated until January 31, 2025, raising doubts about its eligibility to bid under Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Commission Act.
Liberia.- Liberia’s ambitious effort to modernise oversight of its gambling industry through a Central Monitoring System (CMS) is under intense scrutiny, as questions mount over the legality of the award process, potential conflicts of interest and the current execution status of the contract.
The CMS, designed to centralise real-time reporting of gambling operator revenues and transactions, was first tendered by the National Lottery Authority in mid-2024, with bids closing in September of that year. However, reports indicate that Agra Technologies LLC, which ultimately won the contract, was not incorporated until January 31, 2025, raising doubts about its eligibility to bid under Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Commission Act. The law requires bidders to be duly formed, compliant with tax obligations and able to demonstrate past performance at the time of submission.
Procurement observers note that the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) has not publicly clarified whether Agra Technologies met eligibility criteria during the bidding stage or whether another entity acted on its behalf. Government officials have so far declined to provide substantive comment.
Scrutiny also focuses on Agra’s local representation and industry connections. The company is represented in Liberia by William F. Saamoi Jr., who is associated with Telecom International Alliance (TIA), a firm currently linked to controversy over a separate telecom monitoring contract suspended by the executive branch amid alleged procedural irregularities.
Individuals associated with TIA are also reported to have ties to Fido Technologies, operator of Starbet in Liberia, and to IGLMS (Hong Kong), a regulatory technology provider in Africa. These associations raise questions about whether adequate institutional firewalls exist between companies providing market technology, operating gambling platforms and overseeing regulatory compliance.
The situation is further complicated by the unclear legal status of the CMS contract. Multiple sources report that key statutory approvals, including from Liberia’s Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, have not been publicly confirmed, which may affect the contract’s enforceability.
Despite these legal uncertainties, gambling operators have reportedly been instructed to begin integrating with the CMS. While some stakeholders emphasise the benefits of a robust CMS for improving transparency and tax collection in Liberia’s growing gaming sector, legal experts and civil society advocates warn that unresolved procurement issues and overlapping corporate ties could undermine confidence in regulatory institutions and the integrity of oversight mechanisms.
