UK, Lagos Regulator Collaborating To Tackle Illegal Gambling

October 30, 2024
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The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK Gambling Commission to help it strengthen its cross-border enforcement against foreign operators targeting players in Lagos State.
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The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK Gambling Commission to help strengthen its cross-border enforcement against foreign operators targeting players in Lagos State.

Under the terms of the MoU, the gambling regulators will share information and resources to help enforce measures against illegal lottery operations, according to a press release on October 29.

Additionally, the MoU ensures that operators legally licensed in the UK cannot engage in illegal activities within Lagos.

In a blog post on October 21, Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes outlined the approach taken to tackle illegal gambling, including “making progress on data sharing and collaboration across countries, including Australia, Hungary, Lagos, the Netherlands, Mississippi, and New Jersey”.

“We all need to help build stronger knowledge and data about key players and locations of illegal gambling sites,” Rhodes said.

The LSLGA called the agreement “groundbreaking” and expects it to “revolutionise the regulatory framework for gaming in Lagos and ensure greater protection for consumers and operators alike”.

“Many international operators have taken advantage of regulatory loopholes to target Nigerian consumers, causing significant revenue losses for local authorities and exposing players to increased risks. The pressing need for stronger enforcement measures across borders has become increasingly clear,” the LSLGA said.

Bashir Are, the CEO of the LSLGA, praised the MoU during a speech at the event on cross-jurisdictional enforcement efforts and outlined the threat illegal gambling poses globally.

“Illegal online gambling is a global issue, with estimates suggesting that this unregulated market generates between $40bn and $50bn annually. These figures are approximate due to the difficulty in tracking and reporting activities in unregulated markets. In certain regions, the illegal gambling segment can account for up to 20-30 percent of the total online gambling market, making enforcement all the more critical,” Are said during his speech. 

A deal was signed between the two regulators during the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) conference in Rome last week.

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