The economic crisis in


that year and became the official and exclusive operator of lottery games in the country under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance.


Te company later expanded into Bahrain in 2005 and to Ghana in 2007 via local partners. LLDJ is also one of a few companies worldwide to sell lottery via SMS to other African companies. At the moment LLDJ has around 1,500 points of sale in Lebanon and 3,550 points of sale in six countries.


In Lebanon the company contributes around $42.4m annually to the government budget and returns around 45 per cent of its revenues as prizes. Te loto was recently given a ‘makeover’ and has a new distinctive smiley face logo.


Te game began as a single weekly draw but due to popularity a second weekly draw was added in 2003 and today the loto is drawn every Monday and Tursday. Te lottery also operates another twice weekly draw game called Zeed whilst the game Yawmiyeh has five draws per week - between them these three games make up the LLDJ’s main source of income.


Players can access the lottery’s online platform or via SMS to play and there is also a range of instant win scratchcard games available.


All lottery winnings exceeding 10 times the price P64 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS


Lebanon has added to the illegal gambling issue and it is said the situation is out of control with media stories


focusing on players suffering huge losses and losing their homes or cars due to gambling debts. Many


Lebanese feel as if they have nothing to lose in the current climate whilst Covid also pushed many gamblers towards online gambling.


of a ticket (around LBP10,000 or €6) are subject to 20 per cent withholding tax deducted from any winnings. Te lottery has distributed around $594m to more than 33 million winners between 2002 and 2020.


OTHER GAMBLING


Since 1944, Lebanese law has prohibited most forms of gambling except the lottery and the


casino. Players access offshore online gambling sites and although in theory this is illegal players who place bets are not prosecuted and only domestic illegal gambling sites are targeted. Some offshore sites are blocked but there is not an extensive list.


Illegal gambling in the country is a growing problem with many gambling dens found in internet cafes particularly among the Lebanese youth.


Te economic crisis in Lebanon has added to the illegal gambling issue and it is said the situation is out of control with media stories focusing on players suffering huge losses and losing their homes or cars due to gambling debts. Many Lebanese feel as if they have nothing to lose in the current climate whilst Covid also pushed many gamblers towards online gambling.


Te enforcement of gambling laws falls on the municipalities, governors and then the judicial police and there have been calls for the OGERO Communications company and ISPs to block overseas sites.


OGERO Communications (Organisme de Gestion et d’Exploitation de l’ex Radio Orient) is a fixed infrastructure operator in Lebanon providing broadband internet and data services. It was founded by the government in 1972.


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