After 76 years of existence: Lottery of Montenegro ceases operations

(Patria) - The Association of Lottery Organizers (UPIS) announced that the Joint Stock Company Lottery of Montenegro, after 76 years of existence, is forced to suspend its operations of organizing games of chance in Montenegro from February 5th of this year.

The announcement reminds that the Lottery of Montenegro was founded 76 years ago precisely for the purpose of carrying out this activity and that throughout its entire period of operation it has been a responsible business entity within the legal order of the state.

"As of today, the Lottery of Montenegro has no outstanding obligations to the state of Montenegro, other legal and natural persons. During the previous period, even in the most difficult times, obligations to employees and business partners have been regularly and duly settled," the statement said.

It is emphasized that during more than seven decades of existence, over 20,000 citizens of Montenegro have achieved their livelihood and professional engagement through work at the Lottery of Montenegro.

The Association reminds that, in addition to organizing games of chance, the Lottery has also been engaged in the production and broadcasting of television programs for 18 years.

However, as they state, due to "continuous and the latest legal violence and persecution," the company was forced to lay off more than 500 employees in the previous period, while today it has only 25 employees.

"The Lottery of Montenegro was forced, against its will and contrary to its own interests, to terminate all valid concession agreements for organizing games of chance concluded with the state of Montenegro," the statement said.

The Association claims that the Lottery of Montenegro and certain shareholders have been exposed to continuous and systematic legal violence for over ten years, which has taken the form of persecution, and in which, according to them, individuals from competent state bodies, including the Administration for Games of Chance, the Ministry of Finance, and the Government of Montenegro, have participated.

"We have duly, factually, and timely informed all competent institutions about all of this, from the ombudsman to judicial bodies, but there has been no reaction," the statement emphasizes.

The management of the Lottery of Montenegro, as stated, has tried to protect its rights and interests exclusively through the legal order of Montenegro, but, according to the Association's assessment, the arbitrariness and abuse of authority by certain state officials have caused damage to the Lottery, its shareholders, as well as to the state and the public interest.

"In such a created business environment, the Lottery of Montenegro is unable to exercise the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws," the statement said, expressing gratitude to all participants in games of chance, business partners, and employees for their trust and contribution to the work and reputation of the company.

The Lottery of Montenegro will, as announced, continue to exist as a business entity through the production and broadcasting of television programs via TV7. The public will, as they state, be informed in more detail through this channel about the "persecution and obstruction of the right to entrepreneurship".

The Association believes that human rights protection institutions, as well as international actors, will become acquainted with, as they state, the negative phenomena and the case of the Lottery of Montenegro, which, they announce, remains committed to the fight for a state of law and the rule of law.