Google has introduced stricter restrictions on gambling advertising in Nigeria, following a recent court ruling.
As of January 8, its updated policies ban ads for online gambling products, offers, and related materials. This includes promotional items like vouchers and bonus codes, as well as educational content such as books, eBooks, and gambling-related information like tips, odds, and handicapping.
Google did not specify the reasons behind its updated policies, but Nigeria’s gambling sector recently faced disruption after the Supreme Court invalidated the National Lottery Act 2005. The ruling shifted the authority to regulate lotteries and games of chance from the Federal Government to State House Assemblies.
The governance of gambling licenses has been contentious since the Lottery Act’s inception in 2005, with states frequently challenging federal authority. Lagos State, in particular, argued that “lottery” falls under residual matters, not the exclusive legislative list reserved for federal oversight, such as defence and banking. Seeking clarity, Lagos initiated judicial proceedings to determine which level of government should regulate lotteries.
As a result of the ruling, the National Lottery Act now applies only to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while State Assemblies, including Lagos, will oversee lottery regulation within their respective jurisdictions.
