Monrovia, Liberia – February 18, 2026 – The Government of Liberia, through the National Lottery Authority (NLA), has launched a nationwide operational crackdown aimed at preventing underage children from participating in gambling activities across the Liberia. The initiative forms part of the Authority’s intensified regulatory and enforcement measures designed to protect minors and promote responsible gaming practices throughout Liberia.
According to an NLA press release issued in Monrovia on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, enforcement teams and regulatory inspectors have been deployed across the country to monitor gaming centers, mini-slot operations, betting booths, and lottery kiosks to ensure full compliance with national gaming regulations. The move comes in response to growing concerns over the increasing involvement of young people in gambling. The NLA warned that such activities pose serious risks to children’s education, health, and home upbringing. The release quotes the Deputy Director General for Operations, Hon. Christian K. Cooper, as cautioning operators against allowing minors to gamble. “Operators found permitting minors to gamble risk penalties, suspension, or closure of their businesses,” he stated.
Liberia’s gaming regulations strictly prohibit minors from participating in any licensed game of chance, and operators are legally required to prevent underage individuals from accessing gambling facilities. Hon. Cooper further noted that the ongoing crackdown also targets unlicensed operators and illegal gaming machines, which contribute to the spread of gambling activities and undermine safeguards intended to protect vulnerable groups, particularly young people.
“Previous enforcement operations have already resulted in raids, shutdowns, and the confiscation of unauthorized gaming machines in several counties,” he added. As part of the nationwide campaign, the NLA is collaborating with key government institutions, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, to strengthen public awareness and encourage community participation in reporting violations.
The National Lottery Authority is also calling on parents, school authorities, community leaders, and the general public to support the initiative by discouraging underage gambling and reporting illegal gaming activities to the appropriate authorities.
Hon. Cooper reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Liberia’s gaming sector, enforcing responsible gaming standards, and ensuring that gambling activities are conducted in a lawful, regulated, and socially responsible manner.