By Pewu Y. Sumo
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The National Lottery Authority (NLA) on Friday, March 6, 2026, set ablaze dozens of confiscated mini-slot machines following a high-stakes crackdown on the illegal gaming sector across Liberia.
Speaking during the destruction exercise, NLA Director General Hon. Peter Solo stated that the move was prompted by an influx of reports regarding underage, school-aged children engaging in gambling within various communities.
“Two weeks ago, with the consensual approval of the Board of Directors and based on numerous complaints from our communities, we effected the eradication of mini-slot machines across the length and breadth of Liberia,” Hon. Solo stated.
Hon. Solo explained that the NLA had proactively engaged with stakeholders before resorting to the sweeping confiscation exercise. According to the Director General, importers and operators of mini-slot machines were invited to a consultative meeting in February, during which a formal suspension of all mini-slot operations was issued.
Following the suspension of operation, the NLA’s Operations, Inspectorate, and Compliance units launched a nationwide sting operation to dismantle the infrastructure of illegal gambling that has increasingly infiltrated local neighborhoods.
The NLA boss emphasized that the public burning of the equipment serves as a stern warning (caveat) to smugglers and operators who bypass national regulations. The exercise targeted specifically the “Chinese coin” machines that often operate in the shadows of the formal economy.
Hon. Solo vowed sustained efforts to bring “sanity” to the Liberian gaming industry. He issued a sharp warning to established gambling companies, noting that they would face even harsher punishments if found allowing minors to utilize their services.
According to the NLA, over one hundred mini-slot machines have been confiscated across the country during this initial phase. The Authority maintains that these measures are necessary to protect the social fabric of Liberia and ensure that the gaming sector remains a regulated, adult-only environment.
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