Liberia’s FIA and National Lottery Authority Partner on AML Training After Regulatory Gaps Exposed

Liberia’s Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) has teamed up with the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to deliver specialized anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) training for lottery staff, following a report highlighting major weaknesses in the country’s gambling regulatory framework.

The program focuses on strengthening skills in customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, detection of suspicious activity, and reinforcing internal controls. FIA leadership stressed that Liberia’s gambling industry processes significant cash flows, making robust oversight essential to protect the sector from financial crime risks.

The initiative comes after a GIABA report identified critical shortcomings in Liberia’s oversight, including the lack of transaction thresholds in casinos, weak vetting of operators, insufficient supervision of online and ship-based casinos, and unclear powers granted to the NLA under current legislation.

NLA Deputy Director General Richlue Burphy welcomed the training, stating that the authority must evolve beyond a purely revenue-collection role to one of regulatory integrity and public trust.

The training complements reforms already underway at the NLA. In August 2025, the authority created a dedicated AML/CFT Compliance Unit to work alongside the FIA. Among its new requirements, all licensed gambling operators must now disclose their ultimate beneficial owners to reduce anonymity and curb illicit financial flows.

Analysts note that while the training marks an important step, its impact will depend on stronger enforcement, regular supervision, and the willingness of operators to comply with stricter rules.