Senegal Supreme Court clears LONASE to run second lottery platform
Judicial and regulatory rulings allow Senegal’s national lottery to operate multiple platforms, ensuring continuity and transparency in lottery operations.
Senegal.- Senegal’s national lottery, LONASE (La Loterie Nationale Sénégalaise), has emerged stronger after a series of key judicial and regulatory decisions that reinforce its mandate and secure continuity in the country’s gambling sector.
Central to the dispute was whether AFITECH should have exclusive control over the lottery platform or whether LONASE can contract multiple providers.
AFITECH, a technology company contracted by LONASE, was originally responsible for centralising and monitoring lottery operations under an exclusivity agreement. LONASE then hired Paymetrust, a payments and lottery services provider, to operate a second platform and enhance system efficiency.
A Seneweb article states: “In a landmark ruling on September 11, 2025, the Supreme Court declared itself incompetent to hear AFITECH’s request to suspend the contract between LONASE and Paymetrust, confirming that LONASE had not exceeded its contractual prerogatives.” This decision effectively leaves the Paymetrust contract in place and allows LONASE to keep its second lottery platform running.
Regulators have also weighed in. The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP) issued two key decisions this year. On July 1, it dismissed AFITECH’s appeal against the launch of the second platform, ruling that the matter fell outside public procurement rules.
On September 1, ARCOP clarified that LONASE’s agreements with AFITECH and Paymetrust fall under different legal frameworks: a public service delegation and a public-private partnership (PPP), respectively. The authority instructed LONASE to launch a new PPP-compliant process within six months to keep operations legally sound and noted that the previous exclusivity claims did not affect LONASE’s ability to contract multiple providers.
Dispute settled, lottery operations secured
The dispute dates back to a contract AFITECH signed with LONASE, reportedly in 2021, that included an exclusivity clause for its lottery centralisation platform. AFITECH then made an unsuccessful attempt to enforce its exclusive rights after LONASE hired Paymetrust to run a second system.
LONASE, in a press release, reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and operational continuity. The company said it will “adjust its contracts with AFITECH and Paymetrust to comply with PPP rules, as recommended by ARCOP, while keeping open the option of maintaining multiple platforms”.
Together, the Supreme Court and ARCOP rulings mark a turning point for Senegal’s lottery sector. They ensure operations will continue without disruption while respecting legal and regulatory standards.
For players and stakeholders, the outcome provides reassurance that the national lottery is under stable management, balancing innovation, competition and public oversight. With the legal framework clarified, LONASE is now positioned to move forward with confidence and potentially improve efficiency, service delivery and transparency across its lottery operations.
