The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority has directed all telecommunications operators, mobile network operators, licensed value-added service aggregators and VAS providers to confirm the licensing and gaming-tax compliance status of every lottery, betting and gaming operator hosted on their platforms.
In a public notice issued on 12 October 2026, the Authority stated that a licence, authorisation or approval granted by the Nigerian Communications Commission for telecommunications or VAS activities does not amount to a licence to conduct or facilitate lottery, betting or gaming in Lagos State. The Authority relied on the Supreme Court judgment delivered on 22 November 2024 in Attorney-General of Lagos State & Ors. v. Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors., Suit No. SC/1/2008, which affirmed that lottery and games of chance fall within the residual legislative competence of the states, subject to the constitutional position applicable to the Federal Capital Territory.
Consequently, any lottery, betting or gaming activity offered to or accessible by customers in Lagos State through USSD, SMS, short codes, mobile applications, carrier billing, VAS platforms or other telecommunications channels must be conducted under a valid licence or authorisation issued or recognised by the Authority. The use of a telecom operator, MNO, VAS aggregator, VAS provider, carrier-billing platform, payment channel or other technological intermediary does not remove the requirement for the underlying gaming activity to be licensed and regulated.
The Authority also reminded gaming operators and entities facilitating gaming services that all applicable licence fees, gaming taxes, levies, the Good Causes Levy and other statutory payments due under the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law 2021 must be accounted for and remitted.
Every gaming operator that offered services within Lagos State through any telecommunications or VAS channel is required to account for and remit gaming taxes, statutory levies and other fiscal obligations for the period from 22 November 2024 to the date of the notice, described as the Arrears Period. Outstanding liabilities will be assessed on the basis of verified transaction and revenue data, together with penalties and interest applicable under the Law.
Within thirty days of the notice, MNOs, VAS aggregators and VAS providers must verify the licensing and tax-compliance status of every gaming operator using their platforms; provide transaction, carrier-billing and revenue-share records for the Arrears Period; stop onboarding gaming operators without a valid licence; and suspend facilitation of existing gaming services that are not licensed or authorised.
