Liberia’s gambling regulator destroys more than 100 illegal mini-slot machines
Solo said the public burning of illegal machines was intended to set a precedent for dealing with unlicensed operators.
Liberia.- Liberia’s National Lottery Authority (NLA) has destroyed more than 100 seized mini-slot machines at its Monrovia headquarters. Held on March 3, the exercise was led by Director General Hon. Peter L. Solo and Deputy Director for operations Hon. Christian Cooper. The destruction followed raids and a nationwide two-week suspension of mini-slot operations that began on February 20.
The NLA launched its enforcement campaign on February 17 after community reports indicated that children as young as 10 were using the machines with small coins, such as 5 or 10 cents, often during school hours. Raids initially targeted locations in Montserrado County, including streets, shops and video clubs. Operations later extended to Lofa County, where officers confiscated machines from non-compliant sites. One operator, Totoli, had notified the NLA a year earlier that it was ceasing business but was found operating illegally without a licence.
During a media briefing at the destruction site, Solo explained that the decision to suspend operations was made with board approval and remains in effect. He noted that around six licensed operators had been invited to meetings and served regulatory notices prior to the action.
Solo said the public burning of illegal machines was intended to set a precedent for dealing with unlicensed operators. He highlighted that recent inspections revealed unlicensed operations and emphasised that the NLA is committed to enforcing regulations beyond Monrovia to hold violators accountable.
The move addresses nationwide public concerns about underage gambling. Residents reported that children were spending their pocket money on the machines instead of attending school, with some machines deliberately placed near schools or in public areas.
The NLA requires operators to implement strict age verification, maintain proper licensing and ensure machines are placed in approved locations to prevent access by minors and comply with regulatory standards. Non-compliant operators risk licence revocation, fines or legal action.
The regulator has not set an end date for its monitoring campaign, as it plans to expand checks across counties, encouraging reports from communities, parents and local leaders. It reiterates that its goal is to sustain gambling revenue through licensed channels while preventing young people from exposure to unregulated games.
