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A group of Nigerian state gambling regulators has expressed its “deep and unwavering” objection over the progression of a bill it fears will regulate online gambling at a national level.
The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), which represents 24 state regulators, warned in a letter sent to the National Assembly that the Central Gaming Bill disregards a recent landmark Supreme Court ruling.
In November 2024, Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruled that the National Assembly does not have the power to legislate gambling, allowing individual states to oversee gambling in their jurisdictions in a move that potentially ends years of disputes between local authorities and the national gambling regulator.
However, the recently proposed Central Gaming Bill aims to regulate and license online gambling at a federal level to enhance revenue generation for the state. The proposal would also see the federal government registering and certifying a wide range of suppliers for online gambling businesses, according to the FSGRN.
The bill has been making quick progress, having passed for a third reading on June 26.
At the time of writing, the bill and its contents are not available on the National Assembly’s bill tracker. Vixio has asked the National Assembly for a copy of the bill.
A key argument is now whether or not the Supreme Court judgment applies to all forms of online gambling, or just online lotteries. The latter would mean that the new proposal could, in theory, not violate the judgment.
The FSGRN disagrees with this interpretation and argues that the judgment referred to “lotteries as a generic name for all gaming activities”.
“Despite the Supreme Court’s clear pronouncement, the National Assembly has moved ahead to introduce the Central Gaming Bill, a legislative attempt to reassert national/federal control over gaming,” the FSGRN said, adding that “this is an affront to judicial authority” and a “misreading of the constitution”.
The situation is reigniting a long-standing issue between state and federal governments which many thought had been resolved by the judgment last year. The Central Gaming Bill creates further confusion at a time when the gambling industry in Nigeria has been calling for more clarity for their businesses.
States Working On Plans To Introduce Universal Reciprocity License
Prince Arinze Arum, the CEO of the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission (ESGC), which is a member of the FSGRN, said the regulator is “actively participating in the ongoing discussions to establish a unified licensing framework across states, in order to ensure greater regulatory harmony and compliance nationwide”.
FSGRN members agreed to a new Universal Reciprocity License (URL) for online sports betting, online casino, public online lotteries and prize competitions on May 7.
However, there has been no major announcement on its progress in recent months.
The Association of Nigerian Bookmakers (ANB) is still engaging with the FSGRN on the URL and the outcome of the discussions will be communicated to its members “in due course”.
