Burundi’s National Lottery Transforms to Regulatory Agency

Burundi’s National Lottery (LONA) is transitioning into a Gambling Regulatory Agency, as announced by its Director General, Fabrice Niragara. This change aims to enhance transparency and security within the country’s gambling sector. The transformation, reported by Radio Television Nationale du Burundi, signifies a major shift from LONA’s previous commercial operations to a regulatory role overseeing gambling activities.

During a press conference at Hôtel Emeraude, Niragara explained that LONA will cease commercial activities, such as selling scratch cards, and will instead focus on regulating existing gambling businesses and issuing licenses to new ones. This restructuring aligns LONA with other regulatory bodies in Burundi, like the ARCT in telecommunications.

Established in 1985, LONA has undergone multiple reforms, with this latest change reflecting its evolving role in the gambling industry. Since 2000, LONA has authorized 15 gambling companies, with eight currently operational and three working to resume activities. Niragara stressed that gambling businesses are strictly prohibited from operating near schools or areas accessible to minors.

To ensure compliance, LONA employs advanced technologies to monitor gambling activities in real time, which helped generate significant revenue of approximately 700 million BIF in 2023. Niragara also noted LONA’s contributions to public funds and its dedication to supporting national development initiatives.