Senegal Supreme Court Paves Way for Second National Lottery Platform

• Senegal’s Supreme Court has rejected a legal challenge from technology provider AFITECH, clearing the way for the national lottery, LONASE, to launch a second, parallel lottery platform.
• The ruling upholds LONASE’s right to partner with a new technology supplier, Paymetrust, despite AFITECH’s claims that it held an exclusive contract.
• The court’s decision follows a similar rejection of AFITECH’s appeal by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP) in July.
• ARCOP determined that the two partnerships fall under different legal regimes, with the new Paymetrust deal correctly structured as a public-private partnership (PPP).
• The legal victories for LONASE are a significant step towards the liberalisation and modernisation of the Senegal lottery market, allowing for a multi-provider model.

A Landmark Legal Victory for LONASE

Wolverhampton, UK - 30th September 2025 - Senegal’s national lottery (LONASE) has won a landmark legal battle that confirms its right to work with multiple technology partners, a decision that paves the way for a more competitive and modernised national lottery market. The country’s Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge from the incumbent technology partner, AFITECH, which had sought to block LONASE from launching a second lottery platform with a new supplier, Paymetrust.

The ruling, delivered on 11 September, is a decisive victory for the state-owned lottery and its strategy to diversify its service providers.

The Exclusivity Dispute

The legal conflict stemmed from AFITECH’s claim that its existing contract with LONASE contained an exclusivity clause. AFITECH argued that LONASE breached this exclusivity by entering into a separate agreement with Paymetrust to operate a second, parallel platform.

However, this argument was rejected by two separate regulatory and judicial bodies. In July, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP) ruled against AFITECH, stating that the two contracts were governed by different legal regimes. It found that AFITECH’s agreement was a delegation of public service, whereas the new deal with Paymetrust was correctly structured as a public-private partnership (PPP). The Supreme Court has now upheld this view, declaring itself “incompetent” to suspend the Paymetrust contract and confirming that LONASE had acted within its rights.

Paving the Way for a Multi-Provider Model

Following the rulings, LONASE has reaffirmed its intention to continue its operations with both providers. The lottery has stated that it will now work to adapt its agreements with both AFITECH and Paymetrust to ensure they both align with PPP regulations, as recommended by ARCOP.

This confirms LONASE’s strategic shift away from a single-supplier model towards a more competitive, multi-provider ecosystem.

A Signal of Market Modernisation

This legal victory is a significant moment for the Senegal lottery and the wider African gaming landscape. It demonstrates a clear move by a major state-owned operator to embrace a more open and competitive model to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and broaden its service offerings.

For international lottery technology suppliers, this is a positive signal. It shows that Senegal’s regulation is evolving and that there are new opportunities for public-private partnerships in a market that was previously locked down by a single incumbent provider.