“Leading a national lottery is a unique responsibility”

Moorghen Veeramootoo, Chief Executive Officer of Lottotech Ltd

• “It requires balancing economic contribution, entertainment value, technological evolution and absolute integrity.”
• “Since the beginning of operations, Lottotech has contributed Rs 8.34 billion to the Consolidated Fund of Mauritius.”

Leading a national lottery is a responsibility that goes far beyond gaming. In this interview, Moorghen Veeramootoo, Chief Executive Officer of Lottotech Ltd, explains how the operator is reaffirming the original purpose of a national lottery as a tool for long-term national development. As player expectations evolve and the global entertainment landscape becomes more competitive, innovation – including the modernisation of jackpots – is increasingly central to Lottotech’s strategy, alongside transparency, sustainability and impact-driven social contribution.

Since its launch in 2009, Lottotech has presented itself as a company committed to integrity, transparency, responsibility, innovation, and community development. How have these founding principles shaped the company’s strategic direction over the past 16 years?

From the very beginning, Lottotech was built on a clear commitment: to operate the national lottery of Mauritius with unquestionable integrity and credibility. These founding principles were not abstract values, they became the backbone of how we structured our operations, selected our partners and defined our long-term strategy. Over the years, these values have guided the development of robust governance systems, transparent draw operations and stringent controls that ensure fairness at every step of the gaming process.

This commitment to integrity has also been reinforced through internationally recognised certifications. Lottotech obtained ISO 27001:2013 certification for information security and has since been successfully recertified on an ongoing basis, demonstrating the strength and maturity of our data protection and cybersecurity frameworks. Similarly, in 2019, Lottotech achieved the World Lottery Association (WLA) Level 4 Responsible Gaming certification – the highest level attainable – and has since been consistently recertified. Achieving certification is demanding but maintaining it over time is even more challenging. Recertification reflects discipline, consistency and the ability to meet the same high standards year after year.

As the gaming landscape evolved, these principles allowed us to innovate confidently. Every new product, every process and system upgrade was assessed through the lens of responsibility and transparency. This is why the national lottery enjoys one of the highest trust levels among public-facing institutions in Mauritius.

Over the past 16 years, this credibility has positioned Lottotech as a regional reference point. Several African countries have reached out to observe our operations, exchange expertise and explore collaboration opportunities. These include Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and more recently Tanzania, through its regulator, as well as Senegal, through its national lottery operator. These engagements reflect sustained recognition of Mauritius’ operational standards and governance framework.

Today, we are entering a new chapter. Integrity remains our foundation but innovation is becoming central to our evolution. This perfect balance between trust and modernisation is what continues to shape our strategic direction.

Your mission statement emphasizes regulated gaming operations delivered in a socially responsible manner. How does this principle translate into day-to-day operational decisions?

For Lottotech, responsibility is not a slogan, it is operationalised daily through hundreds of small and large decisions. At a structural level, this means strict compliance with the Gambling Regulatory Authority’s framework, real-time oversight mechanisms and continuous auditing by both internal teams and independent third parties. Every element of our draw process follows well-defined protocols designed to eliminate risk and ensure complete transparency.

At a retail level, it translates into rigorous training and support for our 650+ retailers nationwide, ensuring responsible sales practices, respect for age restrictions and ethical conduct. At a communications level, we deliberately avoid exaggeration or unrealistic promises. Our advertising encourages informed and responsible participation rather than impulsive behaviour.

Social responsibility even extends to product development. When designing or upgrading games, we evaluate behavioural impact, affordability and entertainment value to ensure that our offerings remain accessible and safe. This is particularly relevant now as we modernise our products, including the jackpot revalorization, while maintaining a clear and consistent focus on player protection.

“Transparency is critical for any national lottery.”

Over the years, Lottotech has supported a number of social initiatives. Could you highlight some of the most impactful programmes and explain how Lottotech evaluates the long-term value of these contributions?

As citizens, we sometimes forget that the very purpose of establishing a national lottery is to support the long-term development of a country and the well-being of its people. History offers many compelling examples: the Great Wall of China was partly funded through lottery proceeds, and renowned institutions such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale, as well as numerous bridges and roads, have benefited from lottery funding over time.

At Lottotech, our approach to social contribution is guided by sustainability and impact rather than visibility. We prioritise programmes that create lasting value, particularly in sports, education, culture and overall community upliftment. Over the years, we have supported a wide range of initiatives, including literacy development, youth empowerment, inclusive arts, poverty alleviation, and NGOs working with vulnerable groups. Among these impactful programmes are A Lunch a Day for children at Atelier Joie de Vivre, Mo’zar on the Road, Link to Life programmes, Tae Kwon Do Rodrigues, Future Hope projects, as well as our flagship Lottotech Seeds programme, which has been supporting entrepreneurs for the past six years.

The impact of these initiatives is assessed through long-term outcomes. We consider whether beneficiaries acquire new skills, whether access to opportunities is improved, whether communities become more resilient and empowered over time, and whether our support generates a multiplier effect. Notably, several projects we supported more than a decade ago are still active today, benefiting new cohorts each year, a strong indicator of sustainable and meaningful impact.

Ultimately, our social contribution is a direct extension of our mandate: the national lottery exists to support social and national development. To date, through the Consolidated Fund and various channels, Lottotech has contributed Rs 8.34 billion to the country’s development, a figure we approach with both humility and deep pride.

Lottotech recently announced the revalorisation of the starting jackpots of Loto and Loto Plus, effective 20 December. What prompted this decision at this specific point in time?

The entertainment landscape has changed considerably over the past decade. Players today are more informed, have more choices and expect greater value from every rupee spent. After extensive market analysis, we identified that the starting jackpots had remained unchanged for years despite evolving consumer expectations and international benchmarks. This presented a natural moment for modernising our offering.

The revalorisation of the Lottery Jackpots to approximately Rs 8 million for Loto and approximately Rs 5 million for Loto Plus is part of a broader strategy to refresh the product portfolio, increase relevance and stimulate stronger game dynamics. It also aligns Mauritius with global best practices, where higher starting jackpots create early momentum and sustained engagement. Importantly, this decision was guided by data, responsible gaming principles and a long-term vision rather than short-term gains, and was implemented with the approval and close oversight of the regulator, ensuring full compliance and alignment with the national regulatory framework so that every stakeholder wins.

This enhancement also comes at a time when Lottotech continues to strengthen its capabilities through regional exchanges and collaboration. Discussions with regional counterparts have consistently reinforced one key insight: innovation is essential for the long-term sustainability of lottery products. Mauritius must remain competitive not only domestically but also within the broader African gaming ecosystem, where offerings are becoming more diversified and dynamic.

“We collect lottery proceeds on behalf of the State through a transparent and strictly regulated mechanism.”

You mentioned that these adjustments aim to modernise the offering and respond to players’ expectations. What behavioural trends or feedback from players led to this change?

Over the past several years, we observed a consistent pattern: participation grew significantly when jackpots crossed key thresholds. This indicated that players place strong value on the magnitude of the starting jackpot. Additionally, player surveys and retailer feedback confirmed a growing preference for bigger initial prizes, which they perceive as rewarding.

We also noted a shift among occasional players, who tend to engage when jackpots stand out rather than through routine play. In a more competitive entertainment landscape, this trend is evident both locally and internationally. To remain relevant, a lottery must evolve with players’ expectations, and bigger, more dynamic jackpots are a clear and consistent demand.

Ultimately, the revalorisation reflects what players have been telling us for years: they want a more exciting and engaging lottery experience.

How do you expect the higher starting jackpots – Rs 8 million for Loto and around Rs 5 million for Loto Plus – to influence participation patterns, ticket sales, and jackpot rollover frequency?

Higher starting jackpots typically make games more visible and engaging, which encourages broader participation across different player segments. International experience shows that stronger starting points create more dynamic game cycles and sustain interest over time.

In Mauritius, we expect jackpots to become more prominent in public conversation, helping to stimulate participation in a natural and progressive way. Importantly, increased engagement also strengthens the giving back factor of the national lottery, allowing greater contributions to public funds and social development over time. This virtuous circle benefits not only players, but the wider community.

This approach remains firmly anchored in responsible gaming principles: the lottery must stay accessible, affordable and enjoyable for all. Over time, we anticipate an enhanced entertainment value for players, and a healthier, more sustainable growth path for the national lottery.

Since 2009, how have the starting jackpots for Loto and Loto Plus evolved? Can you share a historical overview of jackpot amounts and how they have changed over the years?

When Loto was launched in 2009, the starting jackpots were calibrated to reflect the economic context and entertainment expectations of that time. Over the past 16 years, while the games themselves have matured and participation patterns have evolved, the starting jackpot levels have remained unchanged.

During this period, Mauritius recorded only two exceptionally large jackpots, one at Rs 120 million and another at Rs 100 million. These rare peaks were the result of extended rollovers. While they generated strong public excitement, they also highlighted the fact that the underlying starting jackpots had not evolved in line with market dynamics, inflation or international benchmarks.

The current revalorisation therefore represents one of the most meaningful structural updates in the history of the national lottery. It is a deliberate adjustment designed to modernise the product, strengthen early-game momentum and align the lottery with contemporary player expectations and global standards.

What long-term trends have you observed in jackpot sizes, rollovers, and the frequency with which major prizes are won?

We have observed steady and predictable trends that mirror global patterns. First, jackpots tend to be won frequently enough to maintain credibility, but not so often as to lose excitement. Second, rollovers create natural spikes of interest. When jackpots rise rapidly, participation tends to broaden beyond regular players, attracting occasional and lapsed participants.

Our analysis shows that major jackpots generate substantial nationwide engagement. Social media conversations increase, foot traffic at retail outlets rises, and the game becomes a moment of shared national pride. These behavioural patterns informed the revalorisation strategy: by starting at higher jackpot levels, we create more of these exciting, unifying moments throughout the year, moments that strengthen engagement while reinforcing the social value of the national lottery. A powerful insight came from Rodrigues this year when the island recorded its highest-ever jackpot win of Rs 70 million. What stood out was not only the winner, but the collective pride it generated. People across Rodrigues celebrated the fact that the jackpot was won locally and retailers expressed pride even when the winning ticket was not sold at their own outlet. It became a shared moment of recognition and belonging.

Unclaimed winnings are issues that arise in lottery systems worldwide. What does the historical data show for Mauritius, and what happens to unclaimed prizes under the regulatory framework?

Unclaimed winnings in Mauritius remain relatively low compared to international benchmarks, which demonstrates high confidence in the system and strong ticket checking habits among players. Nonetheless, as with any lottery, there will always be a small percentage of winnings that go unclaimed, often due to lost tickets or missed deadlines.

Under the regulatory framework, all unclaimed prizes are transferred to the National Lottery Solidarity Fund (NSF), which helps the State support community-driven initiatives and charitable causes. This ensures that even when prizes are not claimed, the funds are reinvested into society. It also contributes to the broader objective of the national lottery: transforming entertainment into social value.

Lottotech contributes part of its revenue to the government’s Consolidated Fund. What has been the cumulative contribution since the company’s inception?

Since the beginning of operations, Lottotech has contributed Rs 8.34 billion to the Consolidated Fund of Mauritius. This is a significant contribution and underlines the central role the national lottery plays in public finance and national development. Few private-sector operators generate such high and consistent annual contributions to the State.

It is important to clarify that Lottotech’s role is that of an operator: we collect lottery proceeds on behalf of the State through a transparent and strictly regulated mechanism. The redistribution and allocation of these funds fall under the responsibility of public authorities, not the operator. A fixed percentage of every ticket sold is automatically channelled to national priorities in line with the regulatory framework.

This system highlights the broader economic and social value of the lottery beyond entertainment alone. Every ticket purchased contributes to national development, making the national lottery a unique and powerful public-benefit mechanism in Mauritius.

Moreover, the national lottery operates as a structured and transparent redistribution mechanism that transforms entertainment into direct economic and social value for the country. To illustrate this clearly, the Rs 100 note provides a simple and powerful explanation of how lottery proceeds are allocated.

For every Rs 100 generated by lottery activity in 2025:

• Rs 50.52 is returned to players in the form of prizes
• Rs 23.33 is transferred directly to the Consolidated Fund
• Rs 5.47 is paid as retailer commissions, supporting a nationwide retail network
• Rs 3.69 covers gaming-related costs, including technology and draw operations
• Rs 11.74 represents net operating expenses, ensuring system integrity and continuity
• Rs 0.09 accounts for net financial costs
• Rs 1.24 is paid as income tax
• Rs 3.92 remains for shareholders

This breakdown highlights that the value generated by the lottery is redistributed either directly to players or back to the State and the wider economy. Lottotech acts strictly as an operator on behalf of the State, within a framework defined by law and under regulatory oversight.

What proportion of Lottotech’s revenue is typically transferred to the Consolidated Fund, and has the ratio shifted recently due to product adjustments or changes in player behaviour?

47.16% of net lottery proceeds (after prize payout) goes directly to the Consolidated Fund of Mauritius. This mechanism is clearly defined in law and ensures full transparency and predictability of national contributions. While the ratio itself has remained stable, the total amount varies depending on player participation and product performance.

The recent jackpot structure revision is expected to support sustained contributions by increasing participation and modernising product appeal. However, we are careful not to drive volume at any cost. Our approach remains grounded in balanced, responsible growth. The long-term goal is sustainability for players, for the business and for national fiscal contribution.

“We sometimes forget that the very purpose of establishing a national lottery is to support the long-term development of a country and the well-being of its people.”

How does Lottotech ensure transparency, accountability, and auditability of these contributions, especially given the public interest in this sector?

Transparency is critical for any national lottery. Lottotech’s redistribution model is clearly defined, audited and monitored, ensuring that every rupee generated is traceable and accounted for. In addition, Lottotech has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM) since 2014. This means that anyone who wishes to participate in the company’s performance and bottom line can do so by purchasing Lottotech shares on the open market. As a listed entity, the company is subject to strict governance, disclosure and reporting obligations, reinforcing accountability to regulators, investors and the public alike. This dual structure, strong public contribution through the Consolidated Fund and open access to value creation through the SEM, reflects a balanced model where the national lottery serves both public interest objectives and long-term economic sustainability.

For the past 16 years, all draw operations have always been conducted under strict protocols, supervised by the Gaming Regulatory Authority, in the presence of ‘La Police des Jeux’, and supported by state-of-the-art technology certified by international experts. We undergo regular independent audits, including technical, financial, and operational audits, ensuring that every stage of the process is traceable and compliant. Moreover, we always welcome players and members of the public to attend any of our draws.

In addition, our reporting is fully aligned with national and international standards. Contributions to the Consolidated Fund are monitored in real time, leaving no room for ambiguity. This rigorous framework is one of the reasons Lottotech is recognised as a credible and trustworthy operator, not only locally but also internationally.

Beyond the traditional Loto, Lottotech offers a wide range of games. How have these additional products changed the company’s market positioning and appeal among different segments?

The expansion of our product portfolio has been essential in strengthening our leadership in the gaming market. Products like Football Pools, Loto Vert and Hotpicks broaden our reach and allow us to appeal to different types of players, from those seeking classic lottery experiences to those looking for faster or more frequent opportunities to win.

This diversification has enhanced our market resilience by reducing over-reliance on a single game and creating new touchpoints with players. It also opens the door to innovation, giving us more flexibility to test new formats, explore emerging trends and tailor our offerings to the evolving entertainment ecosystem.

By developing a more diverse portfolio, we have positioned Lottotech as not just an operator of a lottery, but as a modern entertainment brand with the capacity to evolve, innovate and play a larger role in the gaming landscape of the region.

Are there plans to diversify further, whether through new game formats, enhanced digital channels, or strategic partnerships?

Yes. Diversification is a key pillar of our strategic roadmap. We are exploring new game formats inspired by global trends, opportunities in digital enhancement and selective regional partnerships. Our collaboration with several African countries demonstrates the direction of the industry: knowledge-sharing, innovation and stronger regional ties.

Digital transformation is another priority. While retail remains the backbone of our operations, digital channels provide opportunities to modernise the player experience, enhance responsible gaming and enable more targeted engagement. Our focus is on building a sustainable and compliant digital ecosystem rather than pursuing rapid expansion.

Innovation will continue to guide our strategy, always anchored in responsibility, regulatory compliance and long-term sustainability.

You joined Lottotech in 2009, and today lead the organisation. How has your leadership philosophy evolved in a sector where public trust, compliance, technology and entertainment intersect?

Leading a national lottery is a unique responsibility. It requires balancing economic contribution, entertainment value, technological evolution and absolute integrity. Over the years, my philosophy has shifted from a focus on operational performance to a broader vision centred on trust, innovation and purpose.

I have learned that leadership in this sector must be highly adaptive. The industry is shaped by regulatory changes, technological advancements and shifting social expectations. Navigating these dynamics requires clarity, transparency and a strong ethical compass. At the same time, it calls for creativity and long-term vision, qualities that have become increasingly important as we explore regional partnerships and new growth avenues.

The recent collaboration with Tanzania and Senegal is a strong reflection of this evolution. It positions Mauritius not just as a participant in the African lottery industry, but as a credible source of expertise and innovation. Leading Lottotech today means preparing the organisation for the future while ensuring that our foundational values remain uncompromised.

Looking ahead, what are your top strategic priorities for the next three to five years?

Our strategic priorities focus on three pillars: modernisation, regional leadership and resilience.

1. Modernisation: This includes updating our product portfolio, starting with the jackpot revalorisation, enhancing our technology infrastructure and gradually expanding digital engagement.
2. Regional leadership: Our ongoing collaborations with Tanzania and Senegal form part of a broader effort to position Mauritius as a centre of excellence within the African lottery ecosystem. These engagements focus on knowledge-sharing, technical cooperation and the development of long-term regional partnerships.
3. Resilience and operational integrity: With growing digital risks and evolving regulatory expectations, we must strengthen our systems, processes, and compliance frameworks. Operational resilience will be key to sustaining public trust and ensuring long-term stability.

These priorities are interconnected and designed to strengthen Lottotech’s role as a responsible, innovative and forward-looking operator.

What emerging challenges – technological, regulatory or behavioural – do you anticipate for the lottery industry in Mauritius, and how is Lottotech preparing for them?

The lottery industry is entering a phase of profound transformation. Technology is evolving rapidly, not only in game formats and platforms but also in cybersecurity and data protection. Digitalisation brings enormous opportunity but also introduces new risks that require advanced safeguards, specialised skills and continuous investment.

Consumer behaviour is also shifting. Expectations for instant gratification, personalised experiences and digital convenience are definitely rising. To remain relevant, the lottery must adapt while maintaining the safeguards and controls that ensure responsible gaming.

Regulatory evolution is another area to watch. As markets modernise, frameworks must adapt to new realities while protecting the public interest. At Lottotech, we engage closely with regulators to ensure alignment at all levels.

Our preparation includes investing in technology, strengthening compliance, learning from international best practices, and leveraging partnerships to stay ahead of emerging trends. The future will bring both challenges and opportunities, and we are preparing to embrace both with a commitment to responsible growth.