Lagos State Partners with UK To Combat Illegal Gambling
The Lagos State Government has signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom, aimed at enhancing cross-border enforcement of gaming and lottery regulations. This landmark agreement, announced at the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) conference in Rome, Italy, promises to transform Lagos’s gaming regulatory framework, providing stronger consumer protection and supporting licensed operators.
Over the past two decades, Nigeria has seen significant growth in internet access, fueling the expansion of the online gambling sector. By 2023, with over 100 million internet users, Nigeria became one of Africa’s largest online markets. This partnership comes as the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), led by CEO Bashir Are, strives to ensure that the state’s gaming industry operates at global standards. Speaking at the conference, Are emphasized the importance of the MoU, citing the scale of illegal gambling, estimated to generate $40-50 billion annually in unregulated markets.
The MoU allows Lagos and the UK to share resources, expertise, and regulatory knowledge to tackle illegal gambling. Through this partnership, the LSLGA will leverage the UK’s world-class regulatory systems to enhance oversight and close enforcement gaps, with particular focus on preventing licensed UK operators from engaging in unlicensed activities within Lagos.
This move solidifies Lagos’s ambition to become Africa’s gaming hub, attracting investment and fostering a fair, secure gaming environment. It also aligns with LSLGA’s broader goal of establishing the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF), which aims to unify African regulators against illegal gambling.
As Nigeria’s gaming sector adapts to rapid technological growth, this collaboration between Lagos and the UK marks a crucial step towards creating a responsible and well-regulated gaming industry in Lagos and beyond.
