Playing the Lottery in Ghana Using SMS
The National Lotteries Authority (NLA) and Airtel Ghana have come together and have jointly launched a new SMS lottery called 'Wow.' Airtel subscribers can text the word 'WOW' to a short code at a premium rate number and there are daily prizes attached. People receive monetary prices or houses and the use of SMS in Lottery Schemes is a growing venture in Africa.
The use of SMS in gaming will no doubt be a significant income generator to private businesses. It also raises an ethical question where users may become addicted to such gaming opportunities. Using a mobile phone and simply sending an SMS message is innocent enough though when allied to the fact that the individual is part of a gaming system, there are significant ethical issues. Such a scheme detracts from the simple fact that players are losing money and the chances of winning are extremely low.
So SMS in gaming will no doubt expand through the use of mobile telephony and social impacts will be signficant in the next 5-10 years in Africa. We will no doubt keep a watchful eye on developments.
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