Lotto Receivers challenge use of new mechanised machine

Lotto Receivers Union of the Department of National Lotteries (DNL) supported by stakers on Saturday stood against the introduction of a new mechanised machine by the department.

This created confusion and subsequently held up the day's draw until Police intervention. The draw eventually took place after one hour, when order was restored by about 20-armed Policemen who supervised the event.

Mr. Dan Mensah, Chairman of the Union said the use of the new machine would negatively affect their sales since stakers would have to wait for some time before following the trend of numbers drawn by the machine.

The DNL failed to gave adequate education to their numerous clients and receivers before the introduction of the new machine, he said, adding that advertisements they inserted in an Accra daily were not noticed by many.

Mr. Mensah said the union protested to the Deputy Minister of Finance, Ms Grace Coleman on the introduction of the new machine, who assured them that no directives have been given to the Director of National Lotteries to operate a new machine.

Mr Emmanuel Kermah, Director of the DNL, however, said he needs no directive from the minister before carrying out his duties explaining that the decision to introduce the new machine have long been taken.

He explained that the existing machine had been in operation for the past 40 years and it was difficult finding spare parts to operate it whenever it broke down.

The Director said it is easier for stakers to win on the old machine because there is only one set of wining numbers to be drawn each week, which is making the department to lose large sums of money as stakers continue to win.

Mr. Kermah cited an instance in Kumasi where the Department lost over 1.5 billion cedis last week because stakers are accustomed to the old machine and could easily predict wining numbers.

He said in the new machine where there are three sets of numbers to be drawn each week wining would become difficult for stakers, hence the department would not lose.

Lotto stakers GNA spoke to, were highly disappointed by the new development, saying they would boycott the National Lotto for some time until they are able to follow the trend of draw of the new machine.

Some said they lost heavily this week because the numbers drawn by the new machine were no where near what they anticipated. They, however, agreed that

Lotto is a game of chance.

The leader of the Police Force advised the Union Executives to adopt peaceful means of resolving problems instead of confrontation.