Nigerian regulation: Trouble in paradise?

[afrekomedia]

Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority published a public notice on X/Twitter on the 3rd of October 2023 where they listed a number of operators as illegal and "unknown", saying:

PUBLIC NOTICE ON UNLICENSED GAMING OPERATORS IN LAGOS STATE:

The public is hereby advised to desist and/or discontinue from staking/betting on the platforms of the listed organizations/gaming operators as they are deemed illegal and unknown to LSLGA.

They published the public notice on X/Twitter here: https://twitter.com/lslga_/status/17...413817/photo/1

This created mass confusion among both operators and players alike, as the listed operators are in fact licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.


From BCA:

Zebet, a prominent betting operator on the banned list, was quick to respond, emphasising their federal license granted by the NLRC. They invited the public to review their official federal license on the NLRC website, further confirming that their authorisation covers the entirety of Nigeria, not just Lagos.


This revelation has ignited a crucial debate about the regulatory framework in Nigeria. Some users have raised valid questions regarding whether these operators, despite having federal licenses, need additional licenses at the state level to operate within Lagos. The ambiguity lies in whether these companies require physical offices within Lagos to necessitate a state license.


For example, 22Bet, one of the banned operators, does not maintain physical offices in Lagos. This has led to speculation that they might not need a Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) license. Such complexities in licensing procedures highlight the need for greater clarity and transparency within the regulatory landscape of Nigeria.

Read the response from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission here: https://twitter.com/nlrcgovng/status...71681797210266

Read the article from BCA here: https://bettingcompanies.africa/nigeria-news/ban-on-operators-sparks-confusion/