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The National Lottery of Benin closed 2025 with a sharp fall in profit, down 36% compared to the previous year.
Management pointed to the rapid spread of unlicensed slot machines and betting sites as the main reason for the decline, alongside the absence of a one‑off gain that had boosted results in 2024.
Revenue also slipped, dropping 4% to 98.6bn West African CFA francs (€150.4m). A heavier tax bill added further pressure, with charges more than doubling during the year. Even with those setbacks, the operator highlighted stronger underlying performance. Value added rose by 22%, while gross operating surplus climbed 34%.
Online gaming continued to stand out, making up 68% of total revenue and growing 18% year-on-year. LNB stressed that digital channels are now central to how customers interact with the lottery, as smartphone use and mobile money adoption expand quickly across Benin and nearby markets.
LNB to launch unified digital platform
The National Lottery of Benin is preparing to roll out a single digital platform that will bring together sports betting, casino games, and virtual products, while also linking directly with mobile money services.
This move comes as the operator faces mounting pressure from offshore and unlicensed competitors, who have been able to expand quickly across West Africa thanks to weak regulation and growing digital access.
These informal operators often avoid taxes and payout rules, giving them room to offer more attractive odds than state‑regulated firms.
LNB, which has operated under a monopoly framework since 2004 and runs around 3,000 sales points nationwide, sees the new platform as a way to strengthen its position in a shifting market. Its flagship Loto 5/90 game remains the main revenue driver, but management believes digital integration will be key to sustaining growth.
The company expects stronger results in 2026, even as it acknowledges that competition from unlicensed gambling will continue. Financially, LNB remains stable, with a solid autonomy ratio of 2.06, showing strong equity coverage of liabilities.
Source: Focus Gaming News
