Nigeria’s president has made it clear that a federal takeover of gaming regulation is a non-starter, putting the brakes on legislation that would have reshaped the country’s lottery and betting market.
President Says Central Gaming Bill Is Dead on Arrival
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly ruled out giving presidential assent to Nigeria’s Central Gaming Bill, insisting that lottery and gaming regulation sit firmly outside federal powers. He made the declaration at a National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja, according to reporting by The Nation.The bill, passed by the National Assembly on December 2, aimed to create a single federal framework for lottery and gaming across all states and the Federal Capital Territory. Its approval triggered immediate resistance from state governments, regulators, and legal heavyweights, with Lagos State leading the pushback.
“I Know Where My Powers End”
Addressing party leaders, governors, and lawmakers, Tinubu framed his opposition around constitutional limits. He told supporters of the bill that federal authority does not stretch into gaming, stressing that he governs by the book.“I know where my constitutional powers start and where they end,” the president said, urging party members to revisit the Constitution. He was blunt about where gaming sits: “What I want you to forget is centralised lotto. Go and read the Constitution again. It is a residual matter. Residual matters belong to the legislative authority of the states.”Tinubu also warned lawmakers to drop the issue altogether. “Don’t tread near it. There’s no need for us to argue… I know it is coming, and I won’t sign it,” he said, later repeating that any form of centralised lottery or gaming law would not get his approval.
Supreme Court Ruling Looms Large
The president’s stance lines up neatly with a recent decision by the Supreme Court, which on November 22, 2024, struck down the National Lottery Act. The court ruled unanimously that lottery and gaming are residual matters reserved for states, leaving the National Assembly without authority to legislate in the area.That judgment turbocharged opposition to the Central Gaming Bill, especially in Lagos State, which has long fought federal oversight of gaming.
Lagos Warns Against Defying the Court
Lagos State, through its Attorney-General and senior advocate Wole Olanipekun, wrote to the Attorney-General of the Federation warning against presidential assent. The letter argued that signing the bill would fly in the face of an existing Supreme Court ruling.Olanipekun pointed out that the National Assembly attempted to repeal a law that no longer exists, noting that the National Lottery Act was effectively wiped off the books by the court’s November judgment. He also raised concerns about provisions covering online and cross-border gaming, along with a proposed revenue-sharing model that would route funds through the federal government rather than the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
State Regulators Applaud the Call
State-level gaming bodies have welcomed Tinubu’s comments. The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria, representing 24 states, has long argued that the bill is little more than a rebranded version of the voided National Lottery Act. The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority echoed that view, praising the president for reaffirming that gaming regulation belongs with the states.Legal experts have been equally dismissive of the bill’s prospects. Gaming lawyer Obinna Akpuchkwu previously labelled the effort unconstitutional and unfounded, saying it would amount to wasted legislative effort.
What It Means for Players and Operators
With Tinubu refusing to sign, the Central Gaming Bill appears finished. For online casino players and betting customers, that means regulation stays local, with each state setting its own rules rather than dealing with a new federal authority. For operators, especially those licensed in Lagos and other major markets, it removes the uncertainty of another regulatory layer just as the industry heads into its busiest end-of-year stretch.
