The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), together with multiple State Governments, has expressed strong opposition to the proposed Central Gambling Bill, which aims to introduce a unified national gambling framework.
Having passed its Third Reading in the National Assembly, the bill seeks to regulate all gambling activities – online, land-based, and lottery – across Nigeria’s federal regions and recognized territories. The FSGRN argues the legislation contradicts a Supreme Court ruling from November 2024, which reaffirmed that only individual State Governments have the authority to oversee gambling within their jurisdictions.
The bill also proposes the creation of a National Gaming Commission and a new regulatory structure with the power to issue and revoke gambling licenses. It includes provisions to repeal the existing National Lottery Act, along with other measures that, according to the FSGRN, violate the Supreme Court’s ruling and the 1999 Nigerian constitution.
Despite these constitutional concerns, the National Assembly is pushing forward with the bill. Meanwhile, in other regulatory developments from Africa, Kenya imposed a 30-day ban on gambling advertising in May. This was soon followed by a directive from the Betting Control and Licensing Board permanently prohibiting celebrities and influencers from featuring in any form of gambling promotion.
