The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) wants “teeth” to ensure “true protection of the mandated monopoly”. A statement on its three-day indaba in Boksburg said: “Illegal lotteries are robbing good causes of valuable support from the NLC and it’s time for all stakeholders to work together to solve this scourge.”NLC chairperson Professor Alfred Nevhutanda said the Lotteries Amendment Act has shortcomings in terms of enforcement and “we need to look at regulatory imperatives to identify flaws within the South African legal framework”.He added that the NLC must be given the mandate to “declare war on those impinging on the National Lottery”.In short‚ Nevhutanda said: “It is my plea that the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) gives us teeth to bite!”The DTI’s deputy minister‚ Mzwandile Masina‚ agreed‚ saying the NLC “can’t extend their reach to more good causes unless we curtail the negative effects of illegal lotteries”.NLC commissioner Charlotte Mampane said the problem was widespread.“Illegal lotteries are prevalent. We have entities and gambling boards in different provinces which are licensing activities which appear to be the National Lottery but are in fact not‚” Mampane explained.“A perception of lack of integrity will influence the public’s view of the NLC. A partnership approach is absolutely essential to ensure proper lottery functionality and true protection of the mandated monopoly.”Len Paster‚ of National Lottery operator Ithuba‚ said the “culprits” are “often big household brand companies”‚ but bringing them to book is not easy.“If a big corporate is taken to task for running a SMS ‘lottery’ or something similar‚ they mostly plead ignorance‚ stop the activity immediately and then resume it again somewhere down the line‚” said Paster.“It’s very difficult to come down hard on these big companies but penalties need to be better defined or these illegal lotteries will continue to simply feed off the hard work of the NLC.”..