The classification of some betting enterprises as unlicensed by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority has been criticized by several industry players as being detrimental to the developing gaming sector.
The Punch reported that according to a statement, the LSLGA issued a public notice last week warning that 43 gaming and lottery platforms did not have the necessary licenses to operate in the state and advised players not to support them.
In contrast, the National Lottery Regulatory Commission issued a statement through its Director General, Lanre Gbajabiamila, claiming that all gambling operations identified as unlicensed and unlawful in the LSLGA publication had valid licenses to operate lotteries and sportsbooks in Nigeria.
The announcement from the NLRC claimed that the licensees were Zebet, Betika, Gobet247, Msport, Afribet, Bangbet, Betwazobia, Koretbet, Paripesa, Livescorebet, Blackbet/betty Bingo, Cloudbet, Hallabet, N1bet, Konfambet, Scratch2win, Naijabet, Lottomania, and Millionaire Powerplay.
It stated, “The confusion generated by the development has been viewed as having unnecessarily upset the stability the industry had enjoyed since a court judgment that affirmed the NLRC as the genuine body with the legal authority to regulate the industry in Nigeria.”
“According to certain industry professionals, LSLB’s conduct violates Justice Iniekenimi Oweibo’s decision of the Federal High Court in Lagos State, which held that the Federal Government, through the National Assembly, has the only authority to govern and regulate lottery activities in the nation.
“Judge Oweibo delivered the ruling in a suit filed by the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers in 2020.”
