Liberia’s NLA Restores LIPAY’s Operating Licence Three Months After Sports Betting Revocation
Liberia- National Lottery Authority (NLA) has restored LIPAY Inc.’s operating licence. This move reverses course just three months after revoking the operator’s sports betting authorisation. Notably, a negotiated settlement drove this turnaround, not a court ruling. The settlement ends a dispute that began with breaches of Gaming Regulation 001.
Importantly, the licence comes with conditions attached. LIPAY’s return to the Liberian market depends on continued compliance going forward.
LIPAY Receives One-Year Licence
According to the regulator, LIPAY received a one-year licence on September 22. This licence covers the 2026/27 licensing period specifically. It allows the operator to offer several services within Liberia. These include sports betting, online casino, and online lottery services.
Settlement Follows Hearings and Negotiations
The restoration followed a series of hearings between the NLA and LIPAY. Both parties held discussions over several weeks. Ultimately, they reached an amicable settlement under an agreement dated September 14.
As part of this settlement, LIPAY made important commitments. The operator agreed to meet its obligations under the agreement fully. It also committed to maintaining compliance with Liberia’s licensing requirements. This includes anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) rules. Responsible gaming requirements also form part of this commitment.
NLA Agrees to Lift Restrictions
The NLA also agreed to lift the regulatory restrictions imposed on LIPAY. However, this comes subject to the operator meeting the settlement’s terms. The Authority stressed an important point about this arrangement. LIPAY’s licence remains conditional on ongoing compliance with Liberia’s legal framework. This includes the NLA Act of 2014 and other relevant regulations.
Settlement Follows Earlier Licence Revocation
This settlement arrives three months after a significant earlier action. The NLA had revoked LIPAY’s sports betting licence back in June. At that time, the regulator cited several regulatory breaches. Specifically, LIPAY had violated multiple provisions of Gaming Regulation 001.
These violations included requirements around disclosure of material information. Misrepresentation issues also factored into the original decision. The use of the gaming licence itself raised concerns as well.
Following these violations, the NLA took firm action against LIPAY. The regulator imposed US$10,000 in administrative fines at the time. It also disqualified LIPAY from applying for a new licence for two years. This settlement now reverses that disqualification, provided LIPAY maintains full compliance.
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