06 Jun House of Reps Urges Stringent Regulations of Sports Betting

House of Reps Urges Stringent Regulations of Sports Betting

By Chinyere Odinukwe

In response to the House of Representatives concern about the harmful effects of sports betting in Nigeria, particularly among youths, the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) recently defended its mandate, stressing the urgency of passing the National Lottery Bill, for the acquisition of the Central Monitoring System (CMS), to strengthen regulatory capabilities and curb irresponsible gaming.

The Commission was appearing alongside other stakeholders at a one-day Public Hearing in Abuja on “th need to curtail the dangerous effects of sports betting and direct the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to comply with the Lottery Act, 2005” organised by National Assembly House of Representative Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, Honourable Canice Nwachukwu during the public hearing on the dangers of Sports betting amongst youths

Declaring the event open, the Speaker of the House of Rep Hon. Abbas Tajudeen represented by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere warned that the escalating obsession with sports betting among Nigerian youths is causing psychological drain, emotional distress, financial ruin detrimental to the society and the socio-economic development of Nigeria. He added that a responsible parliament will not sit back to watch as young Nigerians indulge in dangerous acts of betting, without the House taking adequate legislative measures.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Inter-governmental Affairs, Honourable Canice Nwachukwu, assured that the Committee was not out to suppress the rights of business owners in the lottery/ gaming industry by shutting down businesses but to apply the rules of engagement in order to curtail the menace of irresponsible gaming in Nigeria.

Honourable Nwachukwu echoed the introduction of a Central Monitoring System (CMS) for the industry. He expressed confidence that it would significantly mitigate most of the existing problems faced within the industry while acknowledging that it might not entirely eliminate all issues.

The Director General of NLRC, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila outlined the Commission’s seven-point measures for addressing the negative impact of sports betting. He mentioned stakeholder engagements, player protection initiatives such as Know Your Customer (KYC) directives, self-exclusion buttons, budget limits on individual player accounts, discouraging chasing losses, game time limits, and responsible gaming promotions as some of the measures.

Represented by the Director, of Licensing and Operations, Mr. Obi Iregbu, the NLRC boss, reiterated the industry’s role in revenue generation, job creation, and sports entertainment, as he stressed the Commission’s efforts to mitigate irresponsible gaming through public enlightenment initiatives and campaigns. He also stated that the slogan of the Commission, ”Lottery the right way …” connotes the NLRC’s efforts to ensure responsible lottery/gaming at all times.

He further highlighted the significant role of the National Lottery Act (NLA), 2005, and National Lottery Regulations, 2007, in protecting the interest of players, stakeholders, and the public in the gaming sphere.

In his presentation, the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Dr. Bello Maigari, (represented), stressed that the positive effects of sports betting in Nigeria is a win-win outcome and mostly not dangerous. Maigari further stated that proceeds from sports betting have supported good causes which have aided refugees and the homeless, contributing to social transformation in line with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Director General of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), represented by Mrs. Sandra Agbor, urged for an Executive Order to expedite the amendments of the NLA 2005 to address the adverse effects of sports betting. She suggested the NLRC establish hospital medical response units for addicts, funded by betting companies by the first quarter of 2025, alongside increased public awareness campaigns to mitigate gaming risks.

Representative of the DG, NLRC, Mr. Obi Iregbu (1st l-fr) with other participants at the Public
Hearing

Representing The Association of Nigeria Bookmaker (ANB) Legal Officer, Olafadeke Akeju pledged the association’s integrity, transparency, and commitment to regulatory compliance, calling for a comprehensive gaming legislation to promote responsible gaming practices for Nigeria’s socio-economic development. Additionally, The ANB urged the National Assembly to prioritise standardisation to enhance safety and sustainability in the industry.

Stakeholders advocated for collaborative efforts to tackle gaming-related problems, with emphasis on the endorsement of responsible gaming practice principles such as commitment to harm reduction, informed policy-making, and ongoing evaluation of action plans.