FCT Lottery Regulatory Office: Public notice to gaming operators and the general public

The Federal Capital Territory Lottery Regulatory Office (FCT-LRO) hereby informs gaming operators, industry stakeholders and the general public that the Office has commenced operations as the regulatory authority responsible for the oversight, regulation and supervision of gaming activities within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Following the Supreme Court judgment in Attorney-General of Lagos State & 21 Others v. Attorney-General of the Federation & 15 Others, Suit No. SC/1/2008, the constitutional position on the regulation of lotteries and gaming has been clarified. By virtue of Section 299 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the FCT has a distinct constitutional status, with the National Assembly exercising legislative powers ordinarily vested in a State House of Assembly.

Accordingly, gaming operators conducting business within the FCT are required to comply with the applicable FCT licensing and regulatory requirements and engage with the FCT- LRO on all regulatory matters.

The Office clarifies that the Supreme Court judgment did not expressly settle the full regulatory framework applicable to online gaming. In particular, the judgment did not establish that any one State has exclusive regulatory control over the online gaming market.

Accordingly, the online gaming market remains open to operators and investors. Operators are free to choose the regulator from whom they wish to obtain their gaming licence or authorisation, based on their business model, operational needs and the regulatory framework they consider most suitable and beneficial to their business.

This choice may be exercised without undue interference, intimidation or coercive treatment by any State regulator solely on the basis that an operator has elected to obtain its licence from another regulator, as every state is duly empowered to regulate gaming activities within its relevant jurisdiction.

Operators are, however, reminded that the online nature of a gaming platform does not, in itself, exempt an operation from applicable licensing and regulatory obligations where such obligations arise.

The FCT-LRO remains committed to providing a transparent, consistent and predictable regulatory environment for digital gaming operations within the Federal Capital Territory.

All gaming operators previously licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) who are currently operating, or intend to operate, within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are hereby required to approach the FCT-LRO to regularise their regulatory status.

The Office further clarifies that any NLRC licence that remains valid and has not expired will be recognised for the remainder of its validity period and converted to the corresponding FCT-LRO licence. Accordingly, holders of former NLRC licences will retain the benefit of their unexpired licence terms, subject to the regularisation process prescribed by the FCT-LRO.

Affected operators are required to present and hand over their former NLRC-issued licences for verification and documentation, complete the applicable regularisation procedures and obtain the appropriate FCT gaming licence.

All affected operators are required to commence the regularisation process within 7 days of publication of this notice.

For public awareness and regulatory transparency, the following operators are currently recognised as licensed operators within the FCT:

Members of the public are encouraged to verify the licensing status of gaming operators before engaging their services.

All licensing applications, regulatory enquiries, compliance matters and official correspondence should be directed to the FCT-LRO through the following channels:

Office Address: 2B Embu Crescent, Ishaku Rabiu Estate, Off AminuKano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Telephone: +234 802 347 6076 / +234 813 052 5876

The FCT-LRO reiterates its commitment to promoting responsible gaming, protecting consumers, strengthening regulatory oversight and fostering a transparent and investment- friendly gaming industry within the Federal Capital Territory.

All operators and stakeholders are advised to take note and ensure compliance.

6. INFINITY MOBILE GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED

7. GALAXY INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT CITY LIMITED

13. FIRST EQUITY GLOBAL INVESTMENT LIMITED

18. SOKABET DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED

24. FANE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS TOUR LIMITED

4. INTERNATIONAL GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED

7. FIRST EQUITY GLOBAL INVESTMENT LIMITED

15. DPAY SECURED ONLINE SERVICES LIMITED

26. TETRAGRAMMATON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

27. TETRAGRAMMATON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Federal Capital Territory Lottery Regulatory Office (FCT-LRO)