Lagos Blacklists 37 Betting Operators in Legal Dispute with Federal Regulators
Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority has renewed its public warning against 37 betting operators it claims lack proper state licensing. The regulatory clash intensifies following a November 2024 Supreme Court ruling that fundamentally altered Nigeria’s gaming jurisdiction framework.
Supreme Court Ruling Reshapes Regulatory Authority
The November 22, 2024, Supreme Court decision invalidated the National Lottery Act. The ruling established that gaming regulation falls under state jurisdiction outside of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. This decision effectively ended the National Lottery Regulatory Commission’s nationwide authority.
Previously, operators with federal NLRC licenses operated across all Nigerian states. The Supreme Court’s intervention now requires betting companies to obtain separate state licenses. Lagos represents Nigeria’s largest gaming market, making its regulatory stance particularly significant for industry operators.
Federal License Holders Challenge State Requirements
Multiple betting platforms including Betwinner, Msport, Betika, and 22Bet appear on Lagos State’s current blacklist. These operators previously held valid federal licensing through NLRC. In 2023, when Lagos first issued warnings against 43 betting sites, NLRC confirmed that at least 20 possessed legitimate federal approvals.
The regulatory dispute centers on whether existing federal licenses provide sufficient legal coverage for state operations. Operators maintain their national approvals should permit operations throughout Nigeria. However, Lagos State’s 2021 gaming law explicitly requires local licensing for any betting activities within state boundaries.
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