Burundi's National Lottery set to become gambling regulatory agency

Burundi’s National Lottery (LONA) is set to transform into a Gambling Regulatory Agency, aiming to bring greater transparency and security to the country’s gambling sector, as announced by LONA’s Director General, Fabrice Niragara. The transition, reported by Radio Television Nationale du Burundi, marks a significant shift from LONA’s previous role as a commercial entity to a regulatory body overseeing gambling activities.

During a press conference at Hôtel Emeraude Niragira explained that LONA will no longer engage in commercial operations, such as selling scratch cards, but will instead focus on regulating existing gambling businesses and licensing new ones. This restructuring aligns LONA with other regulatory agencies in Burundi, such as the ARCT in telecommunications.

Since its establishment in 1985, LONA has undergone several reforms, and this latest change reflects 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. Niragira emphasized that gambling businesses are strictly prohibited from operating near schools or areas accessible to minors.

To ensure compliance, LONA utilizes advanced technologies to monitor gambling activities in real time, which contributed to significant revenue of approximately 700 million BIF in 2023. Niragira also highlighted LONA’s contributions to public funds and its commitment to supporting national development initiatives.