Betting Companies Kick as Lagos Blacklists 43 Gaming Operators

Some betting companies have described the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority’s (LSLGA) publication, which lists some betting companies as unregistered, as harmful to the developing gaming industry.

According to a statement, the LSLGA issued a public notice last week claiming that 43 lottery and gaming platforms did not have a permit to operate in the state and warned the gaming populace to avoid patronizing them.

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), on the other hand, maintained in a statement issued by Lanre Gbajabiamila,  its director general, that the gaming operators described as unlicensed and unlawful in the LSLGA publication were lawfully licensed to run lottery and sports betting enterprises in Nigeria.

The NLRC insisted that Zebet, Betika, Gobet247, Msport, Afribet, Bangbet, Betwazobia, Koretbet, Paripesa, Livescorebet, Blackbet/betty Bingo, Cloudbet, Hallabet, N1bet, Konfambet, Scratch2win, Naijabet, Lottomania, and Millionaire Powerplay were its licensees, according to the statement.

It stated, “The confusion generated by the development has been viewed as having unnecessarily upset the stability the industry had enjoyed since a court judgement that affirmed the NLRC as the authentic body with the legal powers to regulate the industry in Nigeria.

“Some industry experts believe LSLB’s action is an affront to the ruling by Justice Iniekenimi Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos State that the Federal Government, through the National Assembly, had the exclusive right to legislate and control lottery activities in the country.

“Justice Oweibo gave the ruling in a suit filed by the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers in 2020.”