Revenue up 15% between the second and third quarters, and stronger profitability over nine months, give weight to the priorities of Marius Adanzounon at the head of the Loterie nationale du Bénin. Since taking office on 16 June 2026, the executive intends to accelerate digital transformation, widen the sales network and improve the company's performance.

The third quarter is the first full three-month period under his leadership. At the end of September, the LNB's cumulative revenue reached 77.95 billion FCFA, compared with 72.479 billion a year earlier. Net profit stood at 1.778 billion FCFA, up 72%. This nine-month performance also includes activity prior to the change of management.

More than 2.3 billion FCFA saved on costs

Spending control appears to be the main lever for improving results. Other net operating expenses fell from 14.047 billion to 11.724 billion FCFA, a decrease of 16.5%. The saving thus totals 2.323 billion FCFA.

This trend allows the LNB to generate an operating profit of 2.221 billion FCFA, up 58.5%, despite a decline in revenue retained after payment of winnings to players.

Over the period, these winnings rose by 12.2% to 64.005 billion FCFA. Their increase, faster than that of sales, brings gross gaming revenue down to 13.945 billion FCFA, a decrease of 9.7%.

Under these conditions, cost reduction plays a decisive role. It offsets the fall in gross gaming revenue and allows the company to improve its profit. Management says it intends to maintain this discipline during the last quarter.

Turning digital transformation into profitability

Growth in online activities is another pillar of the new director general's roadmap. Online betting sales rose 36.3% over the first nine months of the year and now account for nearly half of the LNB's revenue, with a share of 48.4%.

This shift accompanies a restructuring of activity. Sales of the physical Loto 5/90 fell by 22.3%, while other products, including its online version, help cushion the decline in gross gaming revenue.

Digital development therefore opens up prospects, but its weight in sales remains higher than its contribution to the company's revenue. Online betting still accounts for only 9.6% of gross gaming revenue. Improving this contribution is among the objectives announced for the end of the year.

A sales network set to expand

To support this ambition, the LNB plans to step up the acquisition of new players through its digital channels and to extend its points of sale in areas with high potential.

These priorities extend the strategy presented to shareholders by Marius Adanzounon on 30 June. The executive linked the modernisation of the company to closer relationships with customers and improved profitability.

The final quarter should now allow these workstreams to continue, with a central challenge for the new management: turning growth in activity into a lasting improvement in results.