NLA urges digital literacy to curb online gambling risks in Liberia
The NLA stated that improving technical skills among young people is critical to reducing exposure to fraudulent betting platforms and unregulated online schemes.
Liberia.- Liberia’s gambling regulator, the National Lottery Authority (NLA), has emphasised the role of youth digital literacy in ensuring safer online gaming practices. The regulator made the remarks at the opening of a new digital computer centre in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.
Speaking on behalf of NLA Director General Hon. Peter L. Solo, Marketing Director Kai Gee said the authority supports initiatives that equip young people with skills relevant to the digital economy, including those applicable to regulated gaming environments.
He noted that improving technical skills among young people is critical to reducing exposure to fraudulent betting platforms and unregulated online schemes.
The facility was developed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in partnership with the Rethink Tech Foundation. Gee urged project coordinators to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities, stating that access to digital education can help them better understand online gaming systems, cybersecurity risks and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
He added that these skills are increasingly necessary as gambling activities shift towards mobile and web-based platforms, where users face higher exposure to scams, including Ponzi-style betting schemes.
The NLA also signalled readiness to provide logistical and financial support to sustain the centre, including assistance with internet access, electricity and training costs. According to the marketing director, such support aligns with the regulator’s broader objective of promoting responsible gaming while limiting harm associated with unregulated operators.
Liberia’s gambling sector has seen gradual digital expansion in recent years, with mobile betting and online lottery products gaining traction. However, regulators have raised concerns about low digital literacy levels, which can leave young users vulnerable to misleading gaming applications and financial fraud.
The Zwedru centre is expected to run its first training cycle over a four-month period, focusing on information and communication technology skills. Officials say the programme will prepare participants for employment opportunities while also improving their ability to navigate online gaming platforms safely.
Youth and Sports Minister Atty. Cornelia Kruah called for stronger collaboration between public institutions and private partners, noting that sustained investment in digital skills is necessary to support both economic participation and safer engagement in Liberia’s evolving gaming landscape.
For the NLA, the project also serves as a preventive approach to gambling-related risks. By strengthening digital literacy, the regulator aims to reduce cases of fraud linked to unverified betting platforms and encourage informed participation in licensed gaming services.
