05 Oct CLOUDBET, BETLION JOIN THE LEAGUE OF SPORTS BETTING OPERATORS

….by Ngozi Aneke & Garos Gyang

DG NLRC Lanre Gbajabiamila presenting a Permit to Mrs Olushola Ayeni Power, Director Operations of CLOUDBET

Mr. Abiose Babatunde, Director, BETLION ( R ) received Operating Permit of Betlion from DG NLRC, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila (L )

Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila has emphasized the need for Compliance and Enforcement in the Sports Betting industry, as well as better cooperation between the Commission and her Licensed Gaming operators.

Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila made this call at the presentation of Sports Betting permit to the team from CloudBet and the signing of terms and conditions of practice at the Commissions headquarters, Abuja.

The DG commended CloudBet for its compliance in the “processes” and “procedures” especially for keying into the Commissions SMS Transaction Monitoring and Archival Platform (STRAMAP) and other areas of cooperation. He advised CloudBet to continue to abide by NLRC’s laid down rules and regulations. Mr. Gbajabiamila further encouraged the Management of CloudBet to consider delving into core Lottery asides being service providers and Sports Betting Operators.

In Response, Mrs Olushola Ayeni Power a Director at CloudBet thanked the DG and his Management team for finding them worthy to be part of the Gaming Industry and presenting them with what she termed a “long awaited permit” and said their main aim is to go into online Sports Betting and assured that they would venture into retailing and core lottery in the nearest future.

Mrs Power promised that CloudBet would abide by the Commission’s directives and imbibe responsible gaming in its operations. She added that the company would contribute its quota to the growth of the industry and make the business more successful.

Simiarly, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila while presenting an operational license to representatives of BetLion a Lagos based Betting Company called on all licensed lottery operators in Nigeria to be prompt in making remittances of lottery proceeds due to the Federal Government.

The Director General said it was always a pleasure when there are additions to the Lottery industry and when Betting companies comply but a disappointment when some have to be unfortunately shut down due to noncompliance. He commended BetLion for going through the rigorous process of obtaining a Betting Permit in Nigeria. He said he had gone through their paper work and believed that they would not have any issues regarding compliance.

Mr. Gbajabiamila encouraged BetLion to continue to abide by the regulations of the Lottery Industry in Nigeria moving forward in order to avoid a shut down by the Federal Government. He advised the company to make necessary remittances as at when due.

In an appreciation speech, the Director of Bet Lion Mr. Abiose Babatunde thanked the Director General of the Commission for the opportunity to serve as a partner in the lottery industry and added that BetLion is  hundred percent about helping change lives and would endeavor to make all remittances for good causes. He assured the Director General that they would keep the Commission updated on any expansion plans they have. He further noted that the Commission would have no regrets issuing them with the Sports Betting permit.

In his remarks, the General Manager of BetLion, Ms. Yoyo Alade extended a special thank you to the NLRC team that she had been liaising with through the robust but a worthwhile process of obtaining a National Lottery Permit. She expressed willingness of BetLion to work closely with NLRC.