TLDR
- Lagos State and FSGRN declared Stake.com unlicensed and illegal in Lagos and 24 other Nigerian states.
- Regulators say Stake.com ignored compliance notices and failed to pay taxes for two years.
- A 2024 Supreme Court ruling confirms Nigerian states have the authority to regulate gambling.
- Enforcement will target Stake.com’s directors, banks, payment firms, and promoters.
- The announcement lines up with Africa’s first Safer Gambling Week, running September 7 to 11.
Stake.com has been declared illegal in Lagos and 24 other Nigerian states. The decision came from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, working with the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria.
Regulators say the platform holds no license in any Nigerian state. They also say the company ignored repeated compliance notices sent over the past two years.
Officials add that Stake.com failed to pay taxes and levies during that same period. This is part of the reason enforcement action is now moving forward.
Legal Basis for the Ban
The ruling leans on a Supreme Court decision from November 2024. That case, Attorney-General of Lagos State and Others v. Attorney-General of the Federation and Others, confirmed that states have constitutional power over lotteries, betting, and gaming.
Based on that ruling, regulators say no operator can legally run gambling services in Nigeria without a state license. This applies even to platforms based outside the country.
Enforcement will not stop at Stake.com itself. Regulators say they are also targeting the company’s directors, along with any banks, payment processors, advertising platforms, or influencers linked to its operations.
The public has been told to stop using Stake.com and switch to licensed operators instead. Banks, fintech firms, and media outlets are being asked to check the legal status of gambling platforms before working with them.
Safer Gambling Week Launches Across Africa
The announcement came during Africa’s first Safer Gambling Week, which runs from September 7 to 11. Lagos State joined regulators and gambling companies across the continent for the launch event.
Bashir Are, head of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, said enforcement teams are already active across the city. He said staff are split across three districts to stop underage gambling.
Are warned that operators allowing minors to gamble will face penalties. He said the crackdown on underage betting has already picked up pace in recent weeks.
The safer gambling campaign extends beyond Nigeria. Regulators, operators, and tech providers from Cuba, Malawi, Kenya, and Tanzania are taking part as well.
Universities are being included in the effort to teach young people about gambling addiction. In Lagos, awareness campaigns are also reaching commuters on trains and Bus Rapid Transit routes.
Olabimpe Akingba of the Africa Gaming Alliance said many safer gambling tools already exist. She said the bigger issue is that players often don’t know these tools are available or how to use them.
Kayode Lawal, head of Safe Gaming Technologies, said his company built a tool called SafePlay. It lets players voluntarily block themselves from gambling across all registered operators in Lagos.
Akingba closed the launch event by reminding attendees that gambling should be treated as entertainment. She said it should never be viewed as a way to earn income.
