The National Lottery Authority (NLA) is set to ban the use of paper and pen for lottery staking nationwide from October 1, 2026, as it moves to fully digitise lottery operations.
Private Lotto Operators (PLOs), agents and lottery writers who fail to switch from manual staking to electronic systems by the deadline will be barred from conducting lottery operations.
The directive forms part of the NLA’s ongoing transition from handwritten lottery coupons to an automated system powered by Point of Sale (POS) terminals.
The Authority had initially set August 1, 2026, as the deadline for the complete phase-out of paper-based staking. However, the deadline was extended by two months following consultations with stakeholders in the lottery industry.
NLA Director-General, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, said operators would be required to stake lottery tickets exclusively through approved electronic equipment.
He stressed that the transition was intended to eliminate manual staking and ensure that lottery transactions were captured electronically.
The digital rollout involves 5,000 new POS terminals being deployed to lottery operators, agents and writers across the country.
The new system is designed to generate lottery tickets electronically at the point of purchase and facilitate faster processing of winnings, including instant payouts.
The system recorded its first reported win through an NLA-Fidelity POS terminal on September 17, with the winner receiving the prize instantly.
The NLA has warned that operators, agents and writers who fail to comply with the October 1 deadline will not be allowed to continue lottery operations.
The October 1 deadline therefore marks a major shift in Ghana’s lottery sector, with handwritten lottery coupons set to be replaced entirely by electronic staking.
