- The National Lottery Authority is preparing to ban gambling-related radio programs nationwide as the Liberian Senate presses the agency to account for a surge in unregulated betting operations and mounting reports that minors as young as 13 are participating in gambling activities.
Multiple government sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said the planned restriction will target radio stations that air betting promotions and interactive gambling shows, many of which have grown rapidly in recent months. Authorities are also expected to crack down on platforms that allow minors to participate, in violation of existing law.
Senate summons lottery officials
The planned ban follows a Senate debate in which Sen. Amara M. Konneh of Gbarpolu County raised alarm about the rapid spread of gambling centers across Montserrado, Bong, Grand Bassa and Margibi counties, many of which he said are operating outside legal and regulatory oversight.
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In a communication read during plenary by Senate Secretary Nanborlor Singbeh, Konneh said reports of underage gambling had reached a level that demanded immediate legislative intervention.
"Of particular concern are multiple accounts of underage gambling, including a recent case involving a 13-year-old child," Konneh said. "Liberia's gambling laws clearly prohibit minors from participating in any form of betting or gaming."
He warned that allowing minors to access gambling facilities exposes them to addiction, exploitation and long-term social harm, threatening what he called Liberia's "precious human capital."
Konneh also noted that community members have raised concerns about gambling centers being located near schools, markets and residential areas, increasing the likelihood that minors and other vulnerable groups will be drawn in.
Senate process
The Senate voted to refer the matter to the Committees on Judiciary, Autonomous Commissions and Gender, with the Gender Committee designated as the lead body.
The committees are tasked with reviewing the concerns and engaging the National Lottery Authority before reporting findings and recommendations to plenary.
Konneh called on the authority's managing director to appear before the Senate's Committee of the Whole and provide a full account of the agency's regulatory oversight, enforcement mechanisms, and steps taken to prevent underage gambling.
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"The Senate must receive a clear and comprehensive account of how the authority is responding to these violations and the additional measures required to protect the public," Konneh said.
Broader concerns
Civil society groups and community members have also raised concerns about the accessibility of gambling through radio and mobile platforms, arguing that such exposure is fueling addiction and normalizing betting among young people.
If implemented, the radio ban could affect a segment of operators and media institutions that have come to rely on gambling content as a revenue source. Authorities are expected to announce formal guidelines and enforcement timelines in the coming weeks.
