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Licence guide · Nigeria
Lagos and Nigeria gaming licences after the 2024 Supreme Court ruling
Nigeria is Africa's most populous betting market, and since November 2024 it no longer has a national gaming regulator in the usual sense. The Supreme Court handed lotteries and games of chance to the 36 states, leaving the federal commission with Abuja only. Lagos, the commercial capital and the state with the most developed rulebook, is where most online operators start. This guide follows the money and the paperwork from the judgment to a working LSLGA licence.
The one-paragraph answer
To take online bets from players in Lagos you need a licence from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), issued under the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law 2021. Other states license their own residents, and the Federal Capital Territory is handled separately. A multi-state reciprocity certificate now exists among states that joined the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria.
What the Supreme Court decided on 22 November 2024
In Attorney General of Lagos State v Attorney General of the Federation & Ors, a seven-justice panel held unanimously that lotteries and games of chance are a residual matter. They appear on neither the Exclusive nor the Concurrent Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution, so only state Houses of Assembly can legislate on them.
The National Lottery Act 2005, which created the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), was declared invalid everywhere except the Federal Capital Territory. Lagos had litigated for 16 years after operators complained of paying both the NLRC and the Lagos regulator for the same business.
From judgment to 2026, as reported by Nigerian law firms and trade press
| Date | Development | Consequence for operators |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 2024 | Supreme Court judgment | States regulate gaming; NLRC confined to Abuja |
| 7 May 2025 | FSGRN adopts the Subnational Reciprocity Licensing Framework | One Universal Reciprocity Certificate (URC) for online products across member states |
| 14 May 2025 | FCT Administration announces the FCT Lottery Regulatory Office | Abuja gets its own gaming regulator |
| 2025 | Central Gaming Bill 2025 passes both chambers | Not assented to by the President; no federal regime revived |
| 1 Jan 2026 | FSGRN tax and fee rules take effect | 11% GGR good-causes levy; NGN 100 million per category |
Inside the LSLGA online sports betting licence
The LSLGA publishes a requirements list for online sports betting, and a May 2026 practice guide sets out the current fee schedule. Expect a Nigerian company, a bank guarantee, certified technology and a local footprint.
LSLGA online sports betting requirements, checked September 2026
| Requirement | What LSLGA asks for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate vehicle | Nigerian company registered with the CAC | Foreign-owned companies may apply; directors complete NIN and SCUML steps in person |
| Share capital | NGN 100 million minimum | Per 2026 practice guide |
| Bank guarantee | NGN 100 million from a reputable bank | Held as security for players and the state |
| Tax standing | Tax clearance certificate; registration with the Nigerian Revenue Service | |
| Technology | Architecture diagram, server and network specifications, SLAs with every technical provider | ISO 9001:2015 certificates for technical partners |
| Game and platform testing | Certification against GLI-33 from Gaming Laboratories International or BMM Testlabs | Covers the event wagering system |
| Responsible gaming and AML | Age checks, deposit limits, self-exclusion, KYC/AML framework | Advertising must not target minors |
| Business plan | Five-year projections, market analysis, distribution plan | Retail agents in lock-up shops only; mobile vendors not allowed |
LSLGA fee schedule as summarised in a May 2026 Nigerian practice guide
| Fee | Amount (NGN) | When |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | 5,000,000 | On filing, non-refundable |
| Licence fee | 150,000,000 | On approval in principle |
| Annual renewal | 100,000,000 | Each year; the licence runs for one year |
| Gaming tax (Lagos) | 2.5% of sales revenue, monthly | As reported in the same guide; see the note on FSGRN below |
Processing is quoted at four to six weeks when the file is complete. The LSLGA does not publish a service-level commitment, so treat that as an optimistic figure from practitioners rather than an official deadline.
FSGRN, the reciprocity certificate and the 11% levy
The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN) is the states' answer to fragmentation. Its Universal Reciprocity Certificate covers online sports betting, online casino, public online lottery and promotional competitions across member states.
From 1 January 2026, FSGRN announced a flat 11% levy on gross gaming revenue for good causes, applicable to lottery, sports betting and casino, plus NGN 100 million per year for each licence category. It also removed the distinction between online and retail operators, and waived 2025 licence fees for operators moving over from NLRC licences.
Two points are still unsettled in public sources: how the 11% levy interacts with each state's own tax (the Lagos sales-based tax in particular), and which states are members. A notable number of states remain outside FSGRN, and around nine northern states prohibit gambling under Sharia-based law. Budget for both the state and the federation layers until your counsel confirms otherwise; this page is general information, not legal advice.
NLRC and Abuja
The NLRC still exists, but its writ now runs only in the Federal Capital Territory, and the FCT Administration has set up its own Lottery Regulatory Office there. Operators that held NLRC national permits have had to re-paper state by state.
For a Lagos-first launch, that means Abuja is a separate licence question, not an extension of the Lagos one.
Getting the game catalogue past a Nigerian regulator
Lagos asks for GLI-33 certification of the betting system, and online casino products fall under their own licence category at state and FSGRN level. Ask every studio for lab certificates covering the games you list and for any Nigeria-specific restrictions; some studios do not allow their titles in every African market.
Most Nigerian brands are sportsbook-led, so the betting engine usually comes first. A sportsbook API with deep football markets fits the local habit of small, frequent accumulators. Casino follows: crash games from Spribe, slots from Pragmatic Play or Hacksaw and virtual sports through a casino game aggregator API on the same seamless wallet, so one naira balance serves both verticals.
SoftAggregator gives you one API for casino, live casino and sportsbook, per-game metadata to filter the lobby by market and studio, a country parameter for studio restrictions, and a separate getGameDemo launch for free play. NGN can run as the player currency, or the site can be locked to one currency. Catalogue and currencies change continuously; the live list is in the API and the API documentation.
What operators ask about Nigerian licences
Do I need a Lagos licence or a national licence to run online betting in Nigeria?
Since the Supreme Court judgment of 22 November 2024, gaming is regulated by the states. For Lagos players you need an LSLGA licence; other states license their own residents, and Abuja has the FCT Lottery Regulatory Office.
How much does an LSLGA online sports betting licence cost in 2026?
A May 2026 practice guide lists NGN 5 million to apply, NGN 150 million on approval in principle and NGN 100 million per year to renew, plus a NGN 100 million bank guarantee and NGN 100 million share capital.
Is the NLRC still valid?
Only in the Federal Capital Territory. The National Lottery Act 2005 was declared invalid in all 36 states.
What is the FSGRN Universal Reciprocity Certificate?
A multi-state authorisation adopted on 7 May 2025 by the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria, covering online sports betting, online casino, online lottery and promotional competitions in member states.
What taxes do Nigerian betting operators pay in 2026?
FSGRN announced an 11% GGR good-causes levy from 1 January 2026. Lagos has also levied a monthly tax reported at 2.5% of sales. How the two combine is not settled in public sources, so confirm with counsel.
How long does LSLGA take to issue a licence?
Practitioners quote four to six weeks for a complete file. The LSLGA does not publish an official deadline.
Which lab certification does Lagos accept?
LSLGA requirements reference GLI-33 certification from Gaming Laboratories International or BMM Testlabs.
Sources and last update
Nigerian gaming law changed faster than most official websites. This page combines the judgment, regulator publications and dated professional commentary.
- Supreme Court of Nigeria, AG Lagos State v AG Federation & Ors, judgment of 22 November 2024 (as analysed by Aluko & Oyebode and Afriwise)
- Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, requirements for online sports betting licence
- Mondaq, "How to apply for an online sports betting license in Lagos State (2026)", 27 May 2026
- Mondaq / Adeola Oyinlade & Co, "Navigating Nigeria's new gaming laws: a 2026 regulatory guide"
- Allen & Marylebone, analysis of FSGRN annual licence fees and GGR levy, 2025
- iGaming Business, "Nigeria's states race to reshape gambling regulation" and Central Gaming Bill coverage, 2025
Last reviewed: 24 September 2026.
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