The Senate on Tuesday passed a Central Gaming Bill seeking to establish a comprehensive and harmonized regulatory framework for all forms of online and remote gaming that operate across state boundaries and extend beyond Nigeria’s borders.
The bill, forwarded from the House of Representatives for concurrence, was read the third time and approved, and now awaits transmission to President Bola Tinubu for his assent.
The passage followed the presentation of the Central Gaming Bill, 2025 (HB.2062), by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele of the APC, Ekiti Central.
He explained that the bill repeals the National Lottery Act No. 7 of 2005 and the National Lottery (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2017 and introduces a new legal framework to regulate the operation of online and remote gaming across Nigeria’s federating units and beyond the nation’s borders.
The bill also establishes guidelines for the conduct of gaming in the Federal Capital Territory and strengthens revenue generation for the federation.
Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and six other lawmakers, the bill had earlier been debated in the House of Representatives.
Leading the debate, Hon. Bamidele Salam explained that the legislative proposal aligns with a recent Supreme Court judgment that clarified jurisdictional authority over gaming regulation.
According to the Court, gaming—including lotteries and betting—falls under the jurisdiction of states, except where operations extend beyond their boundaries or involve international activities, which fall under federal oversight.
Salam said this ruling underscores the need for a unified legal framework that respects constitutional boundaries while addressing the realities of modern gaming, particularly online and remote platforms that effortlessly cross state lines.
He added that the bill provides a clear legal foundation for regulating gaming activities within the Federal Capital Territory, where the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction.
The bill is also designed to improve revenue collection from gaming by streamlining taxation, licensing fees, compliance procedures, and ensuring transparency and accountability in remittances.
According to Salam, it also places emphasis on responsible gaming, preventing gambling addiction, and protecting consumers from fraud and exploitation.
By harmonizing federal and state interests, he expressed confidence that the law would eliminate jurisdictional disputes, create regulatory certainty, and strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s gaming industry.
Salam went on to detail the structure of the bill. He noted that the Central Gaming Bill establishes a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for regulating all forms of online and remote gaming in Nigeria.
It begins in Part I with the establishment of the Central Gaming Commission and its Governing Board, described in Clauses 1 to 6, which outline the composition, tenure, remuneration, and powers of the Board.
Part II, contained in Clause 7, sets out the functions and powers of the Commission, including licensing, monitoring, enforcement, and the promotion of responsible gaming practices.
Part III, which spans Clauses 8 to 12, provides for the appointment of the Director-General, Secretary, and other staff members, outlining their conditions of service and retirement benefits to ensure effective management and operational efficiency.
Part IV, described in Clauses 13 to 20, focuses on financial provisions, including the Commission’s funding sources, expenditure structure, revenue-sharing mechanisms between federal and state regulators, and accountability measures such as annual reporting and external auditing.
Part V, which runs from Clauses 21 to 48, regulates online and remote gaming operations by establishing licensing requirements, penalties for unlicensed operators, and detailed rules for financial reporting.
This section also mandates the creation of an online gaming central monitoring system as well as a National Computer Emergency Response Team platform to strengthen cybersecurity.
It sets out restrictions on gaming activities, conditions for appointing gaming agents, and various measures intended to safeguard players and consumers.
In Part VI, covering Clauses 49 to 51, the bill outlines offences and penalties related to illegal gaming operations and grants enforcement powers such as inspection and seizure of materials.
Part VII, contained in Clauses 52 and 53, grants the Commission explicit authority to regulate gaming within the Federal Capital Territory and ensure full compliance with federal gaming laws.
Finally, Part VIII, which includes Clauses 54 to 64, contains miscellaneous provisions such as legal protections for the Commission, indemnity for its officers, regulatory powers vested in the President, and the repeal of the existing National Lottery laws to allow for a seamless transition into the new framework.
In addition to the Central Gaming Bill, the Senate on Tuesday also passed the Chartered Institute of Capital Registrars Bill, 2025 (HB.1460), which had been transmitted from the House of Representatives for concurrence.
Senator Bamidele explained that this bill establishes the Chartered Institute of Capital Market Registrars to promote professionalism within the capital market registrar system. Its core aim is to provide a legal framework for training, certifying, and disciplining professionals in the field while protecting investors by ensuring transparent and accurate record-keeping of investments.
