The National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has urged Nigerian lottery operators to improve their compliance with the timely remittance of funds to the Federal Government. This call to action was made by the NLRC’s Director-General, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, following a recent meeting with the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers (ANB) in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila expressed the government’s increasing concerns about non-compliance, especially among operators running unlicensed online casinos. He warned that the Commission would start enforcing stricter sanctions against operators who fail to remit their dues, change their business addresses without proper notification, or operate without the necessary licenses.

Sheriff Olaniyan, the ANB Chairman, raised several issues during the meeting, including enforcement actions in Ibadan and Lagos, as well as challenges related to the NLRC’s Cybersecurity Framework Fees and withholding tax regulations. He stressed that 98% of operators comply with NLRC regulations and called for clearer remittance guidelines to support continued compliance.

In response, Gbajabiamila reiterated that the NLRC would not provide advance notice before taking enforcement actions. He emphasized that, while the Commission had previously refrained from major enforcement, it would now act to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

Addressing the issue of casino license fees, Gbajabiamila confirmed that there would be no reductions, emphasizing that only financially capable operators should be allowed to participate in the industry. He also hinted at potential license revocations to assess the financial viability of operators.

The meeting also tackled a jurisdictional dispute between the Federal Government and Lagos State. Gbajabiamila clarified that all online lottery activities fall under federal jurisdiction and expressed a commitment to resolving the issue in a way that benefits all stakeholders. He assured ANB members of the NLRC’s commitment to supporting them and pledged to work with the Presidential Committee on tax regulations and other concerns raised during the meeting.