The National Lottery Authority (NLA) of Ghana is on the verge of entering a transformative partnership with Scientific Games, a move that could significantly enhance its global competitiveness in the lottery industry.
This potential collaboration follows productive discussions between NLA Director-General Samuel Awuku and Scientific Games’ Chief Executive Officer Patrick McHugh.
Founded in 1973, Scientific Games is a pioneer in the lottery sector, renowned for its expertise in data analytics, retail solutions, and iLottery.
The company is a global leader in developing retail and digital products, technology, and services that drive profitability for government-sponsored lottery and sports betting programs.
Operating across six continents, Scientific Games is now keen to expand its presence in Africa, with Ghana as a key focus.
To explore the prospects of this partnership, Mr. Awuku was invited to Scientific Games’ headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
During the visit, discussions centered on introducing new lottery products to the Ghanaian market, including scratch cards and raffle tickets—products that are currently absent from the NLA’s offerings.
Mr. McHugh, accompanied by Vice-President of Strategy and Planning Nicholas Spahr, expressed Scientific Games’ commitment to fostering a long-term relationship with the NLA.
The partnership would focus on responsible gaming, the development of trusted global brands, and contributions to social causes such as education, diversity, and mental health.
In response, Mr. Awuku reaffirmed the NLA’s readiness to collaborate with Scientific Games, particularly in bringing innovative and engaging lottery products to Ghana.
He also suggested that Ghana could serve as a hub for the development of instant games and a regional office for Scientific Games, facilitating the movement of logistics across the continent.
During his visit, Mr. Awuku toured Scientific Games’ production facilities, which boast an impressive output of 25 billion tickets annually, with at least 10 million packs of tickets printed each month.
The company develops 2,000 games annually and commands 70% of the global market for instant games and scratch lottery, a distinction recognized by the World Lottery Association (WLA).
Mr. Awuku expressed enthusiasm about the potential partnership, noting that it could open the door for the NLA to attract more foreign investments and partnerships.
He looks forward to the NLA leveraging this collaboration to introduce new and exciting gaming options to the Ghanaian market, further solidifying its position as a leading lottery authority in the region.
