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The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) outlined plans to introduce B2B licences at ICE 2025, continuing a global trend of increased regulatory scrutiny being applied on suppliers.
LSLGA CEO Bashir Are, who also chairs the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), said “without B2B licences, suppliers have no obligation to ensure compliance or responsible practices”, during a panel on January 20.
Recent new regulations in the United Arab Emirates, Ireland and Curaçao include B2B supplier licences, Brazil will establish a registration system for suppliers and the CEO of the UK Gambling Commission, Andrew Rhodes, threatened potential licence suspensions for using suppliers that participate in illegal activity.
In Africa’s largest market, South Africa’s Democratic Alliance Party recently revived its draft bill to regulate online gambling, which includes plans to introduce licences for suppliers.
Lagos regulator Are also called on increased cross-border cooperation between regulators and state authorities to tackle illegal gambling.
“Twenty, thirty years ago, Africa was a dumping ground for toxic waste from all over the world. I think we are experiencing that now in the gaming sector too,” he said.
The LSLGA has strengthened its ties with several regulators in a bid to tackle illegal gambling, including entering a bilateral agreement with neighbouring Botswana’s Gambling Authority to prevent their licensees from targeting consumers in each other's jurisdictions without a licence.
In October 2024, the Lagos regulator also signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK Gambling Commission to help strengthen its cross-border enforcement against foreign operators targeting players in Lagos State.
The LSLGA has also rolled out a Universal Reciprocity Licence (URL) regime, a system developed by Deloitte to monitor licensees, reduce bureaucratic hurdles and ensure compliance with global best practices and standards.
The Lagos regulators actions follow a Supreme Court ruling last year that invalidated the National Lottery Act’s claim to regulate gaming and lotteries across Nigeria, granting states the right to to regulate gambling in their jurisdictions.
