Liberia’s NLA orders two-week shutdown of mini slot machines as raids target operators defying closure notices

The National Lottery Authority says the temporary moratorium is meant to curb the spread of unlicensed “mini slot” and coin machines and to protect minors after reports of under-18s gambling during school hours.

Liberia’s National Lottery Authority (NLA) has launched a nationwide enforcement campaign that includes a two-week shutdown of all mini slot machine operations, warning that operators who ignore the directive face sanctions ranging from fines to licence suspension and business closure.

According to Focus Gaming News, the NLA announced the enforcement drive on 17 February and suspended mini slot and “Chinese coin” machines on 20 February, after reports that children as young as 10 were placing bets on the devices in shops and entertainment centres, sometimes during school hours.

Enforcement has already moved into the counties. NLA teams raided premises in Lofa County on 24 February, confiscating machines and initiating administrative action against operators alleged to have continued trading despite public notices ordering closures.

The regulator says the pause is designed to give licensed operators time to regularise paperwork, implement proper age-checks and align operations with NLA standards, while also choking off the supply of unlicensed machines that have spread through small retail locations.

If the moratorium is enforced consistently, it could function as a “reset” for Liberia’s retail slots segment, but the longer-term impact will depend on whether the NLA follows the shutdown with sustained inspections and clear compliance conditions for reopening.