TLDR Benin’s National Lottery (LNB) reported a 36% drop in profit for 2025, blaming unlicensed slot machines and illegal betting sites. Revenue fell 4% to 98.6 billion West African CFA francs (€150.4 million), while tax charges more than doubled. Online gaming was a bright spot, making up 68% of total revenue and growing 18% year-over-year. LNB is preparing to launch a unified digital platform combining sports betting, casino games, and mobile money services. The operator expects stronger results in 2026 despite ongoing pressure from unlicensed competitors across West Africa.
The National Lottery of Benin closed out 2025 with a 36% drop in profit compared to the year before. Management blamed the rapid spread of unlicensed slot machines and illegal betting websites for the decline.
The absence of a one-time gain that had lifted results in 2024 also played a role. Without that boost, the year-over-year comparison looked even worse.
Revenue fell 4% to 98.6 billion West African CFA francs, which comes out to roughly €150.4 million. The decline came as illegal operators continued to pull customers away from the state-run lottery.
A heavier tax bill made things harder. Tax charges more than doubled during the year, adding further pressure to the bottom line.
Online Gaming Emerges as LNB’s Strongest Channel
Despite the overall decline, the operator pointed to some positive signs underneath the headline numbers. Value added rose 22%, and gross operating surplus climbed 34%.
Online gaming was the standout performer. Digital channels accounted for 68% of total revenue and grew 18% compared to the previous year.
LNB said digital is now central to how its customers play. Smartphone use and mobile money adoption are expanding quickly across Benin and surrounding markets.
The shift toward online play has been a consistent trend for LNB over recent years.