Mali minister calls for transparency at AES lottery betting launch

Mali’s finance minister calls for responsible gambling as three national operators join forces in a regional betting initiative.

Mali.- Mali’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Alousséni Sanou, has stressed transparency, the protection of minors and responsible gambling at the launch of the first Pari Confédéral AES, a joint horse-racing betting initiative involving members of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). He made the remarks at the opening ceremony in Bamako on October 12.

Sanou called for rigorous oversight of the betting sector, linking it to the wider AES ambition of strengthening solidarity and shared prosperity among member states, according to ORTM.

The ceremony opened with an address by Fasséry Doumbia, director-general of Mali’s national lottery and betting operator, PMU Mali, followed by Sanou’s official declaration opening the event, according to a PMU Mali statement. The five-day initiative runs from October 12 to 16.

The initiative brings together Mali’s PMU Mali, Burkina Faso’s National Lottery (LONAB) and Niger’s National Lottery (LONANI). It is intended to strengthen economic, institutional and social cooperation between the three countries through joint activities in the betting sector.

Discussions between the three operators began in August 2025 and focused on pooling resources, sharing expertise and developing joint betting activities.

The Pari Confédéral AES features a FCFA150m (US$263,000) jackpot for a special Quinté horse-racing bet scheduled for October 15. The joint betting product is being offered across the three participating countries. The operators have also announced plans to donate 20 neonatal incubators to Mali’s Ministry of Health and Social Development.