Nigeria to Reform Its Gambling Legislation: Expectations and Prospects

Nigeria’s authorities prepare to significantly reform its gambling legislation. This important step is intended to establish a modernised regulatory framework and streamline procedures for investment in relevant initiatives.

Reinforcing Cross-Border Links

On September 16th, FSGRN, Nigeria’s federation uniting municipal gambling bodies, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GESPA, a Swiss intercantonal regulator. Prince Arinze Arum, Chief Executive of the Enugu State Gaming Commission (ESGC), commended this decision. According to the spokesman, the adoption of international top practices will now progress more quickly.

He observed that, if executed correctly, the initiative would positively influence the local digital wagering segment. The well-organised knowledge exchange programme developed by the 2 regulatory authorities deserves acknowledgement and reflects the FSGRN’s sustainable vision.

The selected format of cross-border collaboration clearly demonstrates Nigeria’s dedication to:

• improving and bolstering legal capacity;
• adopting best practices for responsible gaming and customer safety;
• establishing the foundation for a secure, transparent gambling environment across the county.

Strategic Guidelines for Market Growth

Mr Arum highlighted that Nigerian authorities have made substantial advancements in aligning with international standards. Recently, the county has experienced a steady trend towards harmonisation and the creation of a balanced environment. The regulatory approach is now consistent across all internal states, guaranteeing fair and uniform conditions for all market players.

At present, Enugu and Lagos have the most efficient oversight systems in place. Their regulatory models closely resemble those of highly developed destinations like the UK and Malta.

Currently, the FSGRN’s main priorities include:

• organising in-depth online business reporting;
• overseeing compliance with the national tax obligations;
• monitoring adherence to responsible gambling standards;
• developing a transparent and independent certification framework.

Mr Arum believes that, given current trends, regulatory bodies of other African gaming markets will soon emulate Nigeria. The country is emerging as the central hub of well-organised industry oversight across the continent, from the southern regions to the Sahara Desert.

Local authorities have adopted a careful and effective model designed to boost long-term confidence among investors, operators, and customers. All signs suggest that the jurisdiction may soon garner increased attention because of its niche accomplishments, as well as growth and innovation strategies.

Enugu: Trailblazer of Superior Regulatory Approaches

The Commission is continuously working towards implementing and strengthening initiatives that will greatly elevate the state's and the country's investment attractiveness. Mr Arum highlighted that the ESGC focuses on reforms aimed at making the sector more socially responsible and welcoming to entrepreneurs.

Key initiatives already implemented in the region include:

1. Reinforced regulatory tech infrastructure. A programme for 24/7 real-time monitoring of entertainment portals has been presented to ensure adherence to global standards for safety, data integrity, and consumer security.
2. Responsible gambling and legal education systems. The solution is intended to improve gaming literacy and actively involve all industry stakeholders, such as providers, operators, regulators, end customers, and others.
3. Investment facilitation arrangement. This mechanism has been introduced to streamline the approval process for applications and lower bureaucratic hurdles, thereby supporting legal funding for diverse projects.

Unified Regulatory Framework in Africa: Prospects

The latest local conferences were primarily dedicated to establishing a centralised system to oversee Africa's gambling sphere, enabling brands with domestic certificates to expand quickly and operate across multiple regional countries with less bureaucracy.

The ESGC’s CEO considers this idea quite progressive. However, in reality, entertainment companies encounter substantial legal discrepancies and varying cultural attitudes towards gambling.

Developing a single framework across the continent is a complicated, multi-step challenge that demands:

• deep political coordination;
• mutual recognition of standards;
• unified administrative procedures across all jurisdictions.

Mr Arum emphasised that success depends on coherent, smooth collaboration. It can start with bilateral or subregional data-sharing agreements and the initiation of joint training programmes. Subsequently, there should be a thorough implementation of responsible gaming principles and ongoing monitoring of AML and KYC compliance.

Only through a consistent approach and coordinated steps can the foundation be established for wider, uniform rollout. Mr Arum remains optimistic about this idea, though he acknowledges that reaching a global objective requires considerable effort, dedication, and time.