- Abdul-Salam calls for urgent tech adoption after rising impersonation scams
- Seminar in Abidjan focuses on AI’s role in lottery security and fraud detection
- ALA and WLA encourage members to adopt AI and cybersecurity strategies
Mohammed Abdul-Salam, Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), has highlighted the urgent need for the NLA to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into its systems amid the growing global threat of mobile fraud and cybercrime.
He made these remarks during a Seminar organized by the African Lotteries Association (ALA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The ALA Seminar, inaugurated by Mr. Doumbia Fassery, Vice President of ALA and Director-General of PMU Mali, focused on the vital role of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity in the gaming industry.
Sessions included presentations on AI fundamentals, its application in security, fraud detection, data analytics, and operational intelligence, as well as the cybersecurity challenges facing lotteries in the AI era.
Experts also demonstrated advanced AI tools designed to prevent mobile fraud in the lottery sector. Panel discussions featured notable speakers like Philippe Vlaemminck, Legal Advisor to European Lotteries, and Dr. Coulibali Ibrahim, a Digital Law expert.
WLA Executive Director, Luca Esposito, encouraged ALA members to adopt AI and other technologies to tackle ongoing industry challenges.
Speaking off-stage, Mr. Abdul-Salam reaffirmed his commitment to combating fraud. He described the seminar as highly insightful and emphasized the Authority’s responsibility to intensify efforts against fraudsters.
“We have instances where our images are exploited to deceive unsuspecting individuals out of large sums of money. This seminar serves as a wake-up call to adopt technological solutions to combat mobile fraud and cybercrime,” he stated.
The ALA Seminar on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity provided a collaborative platform for members, executives, regulators, and industry stakeholders to identify common threats and share solutions from their respective jurisdictions.
Mohammed Abdul-Salam Ratified as ALA Vice President
Following the seminar, the ALA General Assembly convened on June 25 to review and approve the 2024 financial report and officially ratify Mr. Abdul-Salam’s position.
After the resignation of the former NLA Director-General, Mr. Samuel Awuku, and the appointment of Mr. Abdul-Salam, the ALA Board of Directors formally recognized the leadership change at their February 25 meeting. They confirmed Mr. Abdul-Salam’s appointment as Vice President to complete Mr. Awuku’s term.
At the June 25 Executive Meeting, the Assembly further ratified Mr. Abdul-Salam’s co-optation as the 4th Vice President on the ALA Board of Directors. His term will run through the 2027 financial year.
Mr. Abdul-Salam expressed gratitude to the Assembly for the appointment and pledged to work diligently with ALA members to achieve their collective goals.
