Mobile operator MTN is adding more functionality to its Mobile Money (MoMo) platform, which has struggled to gain traction in SA.
The company yesterday announced that MoMo now features Play Lotto functionality, offering users a “free-to-play, safe and convenient way to try their luck at the South African Lotto”.
It recently also included a new food vouchers functionality, and the option for users to make charitable donations to a range of reputable, vetted charity and faith-based organisations that are offering COVID-19 relief.
Although MTN has enjoyed success with its MoMo platform on the African continent, in SA that has not been the case.
The mobile operator re-launched the mobile money platform in January this year after it had killed it off in September 2016, as it had failed to gain ground.
The telco launched the service in partnership with Ubank, a financial service provider with a strong presence in rural areas as well as mining communities in SA.
At the re-launch, MTN SA CEO Godfrey Motsa said he was “stubbornly optimistic” the mobile operator’s mobile money service will be a success in its second attempt.
On its partnership with lottery operator Ithuba, MTN says the MoMo advantage is that customers do not need a bank account to play, unlike traditional banking apps – they merely need to be registered on the MoMo app and have a positive balance in their MoMo Wallet.
It notes there is no transaction fee for Play Lotto, but once confirmed, the ticket purchase cannot be cancelled or reversed.
According to MTN, as in-store, tickets for both Lotto and Powerball games cost R5; if the Plus 1 option is selected, a further R2.50 will be deducted from the customer’s MoMo Wallet. If Plus 1 and Plus 2 are selected, an additional R5 will be deducted, and so on.
“MoMo is all about innovation, convenience and simplicity, and the partnership with Ithuba is part of our drive to keep expanding our digital channels and technological innovations with solutions that we know our customers want,” says Felix Kamenga, chief officer for MTN SA mobile financial services.
MoMo Play Lotto players will be notified of any winnings via SMS within two business days following each draw.
Share