SA Lottery Company Secures Major Congo Deal

March 17 - In a deal that is said to be worth more than R1 billion a year, the South African lottery group, Skhoma Gaming and Lotteries Africa entered the Congo gambling market this week.

Skhoma partnered with the Democratic Republic of Congo group, Sonal to expand the gambling market in the country.

"Skhoma will be responsible for the regulatory aspect of the running of the lottery while the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafoc) will take the operational aspects," said a spokesperson for Skhoma, Ongama Koyana.

Koyana said that Nafoc would then get technical partners who would be responsible for the running of the lottery.

"For the casinos, there will be a bidding process next week to determine who will be responsible for their operations," said Koyana.

Both groups have considerable history in the African markets.

Sonal has been running lotteries in the Congo since 1922, while Skhoma, which was founded in 2006, has provided advertising and mining services to the DRC.

Koyana said that the group would be exporting expertise to help set up the operation in the DRC, meaning that a significant number of South Africans could find employment through this new venture.

"South African companies specializing in media, advertising, production of scratchcards, project management and training can apply for contracts in DRC," said Koyana. "We expect to create 500 jobs for South Africans in the process."

The new venture will be listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange after a trust is formed and public buys shares in the lottery.

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