Senate investigates Liberia Broadcasting System over gambling deal
The probe will examine the agreement’s terms, any revenue sharing and whether it aligns with LBS’s founding charter from 1962, which emphasises public interest over commercial ventures.
Liberia.- The Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) is facing criticism for allegedly allowing a gambling operation on its premises. The issue was brought to the Liberian Senate on November 11 by Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, citing reports of an agreement between LBS management and Blue Star Hi-Tech Liberia Limited to operate a betting centre at the broadcaster’s Paynesville headquarters outside Monrovia.
Snowe described the arrangement as a potential threat to LBS’s core mission. He said: “LBS is funded by taxpayers and tasked with informing, educating and entertaining the public. It should not link itself to activities like gambling that could weaken its ethical duties.”
He pointed out that the broadcaster reaches families across Liberia, including children who tune in for news and educational programmes, which makes its involvement in gambling problematic, as it blurs the line between public service and private gain.
The facility in question is a draw room for the 5/90 Ball Lotto Game, a national lottery product run by Blue Star. The Monrovia-based operator invested about $2.5m (€2.3m) in the setup, including automated ball-drawing machines and advanced surveillance systems.
The partnership was projected to bring in millions of dollars in government revenue each year from ticket sales, while also creating between 500 and 1,500 jobs in sales and operations across several counties, such as Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Bong, Nimba and Lofa.
During the Senate session, Saah Joseph, Montserrado County Senator, proposed that the Committee on Information, Broadcasting and Cultural Affairs conduct a comprehensive review of the deal, covering security and financial aspects. Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence approved the motion, setting a two-week deadline for the committee’s report.
The probe will examine the agreement’s terms, any revenue sharing, and whether it aligns with LBS’s founding charter from 1962, which emphasises public interest over commercial ventures.
