Nigeria’s State Regulators Reject Renewed Push for Central Gaming Bill

State-level regulators across Nigeria have once again voiced strong opposition to the proposed Central Gaming Bill 2025, criticizing it as an unconstitutional attempt to impose federal authority over an area reserved for individual states. The bill, which has already passed its third reading in the National Assembly, aims to create a unified framework for overseeing all online and remote gaming nationwide.

This effort closely mirrors an earlier initiative—the National Lottery Act 2005—which was ultimately nullified by Nigeria’s Supreme Court. That law was ruled invalid on the grounds that it encroached upon powers reserved for state governments.

Despite this precedent, the federal legislature is making another push, prompting fierce criticism from the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), a coalition of gaming authorities from 24 states.

In a public statement, the FSGRN criticized the bill as merely a recycled version of the defunct National Lottery Act.

“The proposed Central Gaming Bill 2025 is nothing more than a repackaged version of the now- nullified National Lottery Act 2005. Both acts seek to establish federal control over the same subject matter, games of chance through licensing, regulation and enforcement by a federal commission,” the group declared.

The FSGRN emphasized that the 2025 bill violates the limits of federal authority, echoing the Supreme Court’s earlier position that regulation of lotteries and games of chance should fall under state jurisdiction—not the central government.

The Nigerian constitution, which outlines the legislative boundaries between the federal and state governments, was a central pillar in the Supreme Court’s judgment. The ruling made clear that gambling laws, including licensing and enforcement, should be governed by state assemblies.

The Central Gaming Bill 2025 seeks to establish a National Gaming Commission tasked with regulating and licensing all gaming activities across Nigeria. This includes provisions for managing gambling operations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and overseeing iGaming revenues across both federal and state jurisdictions.

The bill’s backers argue that because the gambling landscape has shifted largely online, a centralized regulatory framework is necessary to effectively monitor and control the sector. However, this reasoning has done little to sway the FSGRN or legal experts, who argue that the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the constitution cannot be overridden by legislative convenience.

Chief Dr Francis Ubani, a chartered tax professional, strongly advised against passing the bill, citing its legal shortcomings.

“We are confident that the leadership of the current National Assembly is very much aware of their statutory obligation to uphold the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,” Ubani said.

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“We therefore, urge and implore the National Assembly, through the House of Representatives, not to go ahead with passing into law the Central Gaming Bill 2025, as doing so would be in total contravention of the 1999 constitution, and would be void and of no effect whatsoever. Finally, do not reintroduce the nullified National Lottery Act, through the back door, by change of nomenclature.”

While the federal push for control faces substantial legal hurdles, Nigeria’s iGaming industry continues its upward trajectory. Casino operators like Bet9ja, 1xbet, BetKing, NairaBet, and Betway are thriving, thanks to rising mobile internet access and rapid fintech innovations.

Despite lacking a unified federal regulatory framework, the sector is expected to grow significantly. Industry analysts forecast a 16% increase in market size, with revenue projected to approach $500 million by the end of 2025.

Source:

“Nigeria state regulators remain opposed to Central Gaming Bill 2025“, igamingbusiness.com, July 24, 2025.