DIGICEL LAUNCHES MOBILE PHONE LOTTERY IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

10/31/10 – 10 percent of profits to benefit youth sports The National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) of Papua New Guinea has given PNG Lotto license to operate a mobile phone gambling lottery service allowing residents to play the lottery using their mobile phones.

The NGCB views the initiative as the most efficient method to legitimise illegal gambling that currently occurs in Papua New Guinea. The new lottery company comes after the collapse in 2003 of the country’s previous lottery provider Gold Lotto apparently due to lack of accountability and transparency.

Eddie Sinai, NGCB operations commented that 10 percent of all profits received from the venture will be going back into the communities to develop and engage youths in sports and the board’s role is to ensure that there is control and fairness to prevent any recurrence of the previous lottery's history.

Using the Digicel Mobile Network, players SMS their choice of six numbers between one and 44, and receive a return sms receipt showing the six choices the player has made. Winning players will be required to present their phone number and SIM to collect their prize money.