LSLGA and FSGRN Declare Stake.com Illegal in Lagos and 24 Nigerian States
The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), in collaboration with the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), has declared the gaming operations of Stake.com unlawful in Lagos State and across 24 member states in Nigeria.
According to the LSLGA, over the past two years, the operator received no fewer than ten formal compliance notices from regulatory authorities. Despite these repeated warnings, Stake failed to register its operations, declare earnings, or remit the mandatory monthly gaming taxes and levies.
The enforcement drive follows a decisive legal precedent set on 22 November 2024, when a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, presided over by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, delivered a unanimous judgment in Attorney-General of Lagos State & Ors v. Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors (SC/1/2008), with the lead judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris.
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The court granted the reliefs sought by Lagos State and nullified the National Lottery Act 2005, holding that lottery and gaming matters do not fall under the federal government’s Exclusive or Concurrent Legislative Lists. Instead, such matters fall within the residual legislative competence of the states. LSLGA and FSGRN maintain that the judgment affirms the constitutional authority of states to regulate lotteries, betting and gaming within their respective jurisdictions.
Relying on the Supreme Court judgment, LSLGA and FSGRN are taking enforcement action against Stake, its directors, and any payment companies, financial institutions, advertising platforms, influencers, or other entities found to be facilitating its unlawful operations.
The LSLGA has formally identified Stake.com among the unlicensed gaming operators conducting unauthorized activities in Nigeria without state approvals.
The regulators have issued an urgent advisory warning the public to cease wagering on Stake.com immediately and to use only state-licensed operators to protect themselves against financial loss and lack of consumer safeguards. Financial institutions, fintechs, and media platforms have also been urged to conduct due diligence and cease facilitating unlicensed gaming activities.
