Lagos Court Rulings Strengthen LSLGA’s Oversight of Betting Operators
Three separate High Court judgments delivered in June have affirmed the powers of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) to regulate betting operators whose services are available to customers in Lagos, with the court ruling against Zegaming Nigeria Limited, Africa Betting Company Nigeria Limited and Mozzartbet Services Limited.
The Authority brought the three suits after it accused the operators of offering betting and gaming services in Lagos without licences issued under the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law 2021. It relied on Sections 33 and 86(1) of the Law, which require operators to hold valid licences before offering betting or gaming services in the state, as well as Regulation 2 of the Online and Retail Gaming Regulations 2021. The Authority also asked the court to affirm its powers under Sections 19, 25(1) and 71 to assess licence fees, gaming levies and the Good Causes Levy, and under Sections 18(f) and 32(2) to inspect operators’ financial records and other documents needed for regulatory oversight.
The first judgment came on 2 June 2026, when Justice A. M. Ipaye ruled in favour of the Authority in its case against Zegaming Nigeria Limited. Although the company did not enter an appearance or file a defence, the court found that it had offered betting services in Lagos without the required licence. It ordered the company to register with the Authority, pay all outstanding fees and levies, submit its financial records and cease operations until it complied with the law.
On 17 June 2026, Justice Dr Basiru Oriyomi Olukolu reached the same conclusion in the case against Africa Betting Company Nigeria Limited. In addition to affirming the Authority’s licensing and enforcement powers under the Law, the judgment referred to Section 35, which governs the grant, renewal and variation of gaming licences, and Section 50 of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (Amendment) Law 2024, which the court said vests the collection of gaming levies in the Authority. The company was directed to obtain the required licence, pay outstanding fees and levies, and produce its financial records.
Unlike the earlier cases, Mozzartbet Services Limited actively contested the proceedings by filing a preliminary objection. The company argued that it did not operate within the geographical territory of Lagos State, had no nexus with the state’s laws, and challenged both the territorial and subject matter jurisdiction of the Lagos High Court. It also disputed the applicability of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law 2021 to its operations
Justice A. M. Ipaye dismissed the preliminary objection, holding that the company’s activities brought it within the scope of the said law. The court went on to uphold the Authority’s powers to license operators, collect licence fees, gaming levies and the Good Causes Levy, and require financial records. The judgment also referred to Regulations 11(1) and 12 of the Casino and Gaming Regulations 2021 on the Good Causes Levy, and Regulations 22 and 23 on record-keeping. Mozzartbet was ordered to obtain a Lagos licence, pay outstanding fees and levies, submit its records, cease operations until it complied with the law, and pay ₦500,000 in costs.
