.svg)
The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has stated that there is no such thing as a “remote gaming licence” in Nigeria, contrary to recent media reports in the country.
A recent article published by Business Day “reeks of misinformation and has the potential to mislead the international community regarding the true state of gaming regulation in Nigeria”, according to the LSLGA’s response to the article.
“Any discussions or considerations regarding such regulatory frameworks fall squarely within the jurisdiction of state regulators,” the Lagos regulator added, citing the recent landmark Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the National Lottery Act’s claim to regulate gaming and lotteries across Nigeria.
It stated: “The now-defunct National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has no authority to establish or oversee such licences.”
The state regulator warned that operators granted national remote gambling licences in Nigeria have “mere paper without any legal backing” and they should seek licences from the appropriate state regulator.
Operators who do not heed the warning face enforcement action, including the closure of operations, according to the LSLGA.
On November 28, the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), chaired by the CEO of the LSLGA, Bashir Are, stated that it is rolling 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 URL has been fully operational since December 1, 2024, with Are stating it is ready to be enforced.
Last year, the LSLGA published a list of 42 operators for which it advised the public “to desist and/or discontinue from staking/betting on the platforms” as they are “deemed illegal and unknown to LSLGA”.
The NLRC put out its own public notice shortly thereafter, including a list of operators that have licences to operate in the country after it was “inundated” with requests on the status of the operators listed in the LSLGA notice.
At the time of writing, the NLRC had yet to respond publicly to the LSLGA’s latest statement about remote gaming licences or the recent Supreme Court ruling.
