The National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has urged Nigerian lottery operators to enhance compliance regarding the timely remittance of funds to the Federal Government. This call was made by NLRC Director-General Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila during a statement released on Thursday, following a meeting with the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers (ANB) in Abuja.
During the discussions, Gbajabiamila expressed the government’s increasing concerns over non-compliance, particularly from operators of unlicensed online casinos. He announced that the NLRC would begin to impose sanctions on operators who fail to remit their dues, change their business addresses without notification, or operate online casinos without the proper licenses.
ANB Chairman Sheriff Olaniyan brought several issues to the table, including enforcement actions in cities like Ibadan and Lagos, as well as challenges related to the NLRC’s Cybersecurity Framework Fees and withholding tax regulations. Olaniyan noted that “98 per cent comply with NLRC regulations” and called for “clearer remittance guidelines” to facilitate better compliance.
In response, Gbajabiamila made it clear that the NLRC would not provide advance notice before enforcing regulations. “We will not notify you before enforcement. For some time now, we have refrained from major enforcement actions, but now we must act,” he asserted, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to permit conditions.
Regarding the contentious casino license fees, Gbajabiamila confirmed that there would be no reductions, emphasizing that only financially capable operators should participate in the industry. He acknowledged the request for a review of quarterly remittances and hinted at possible license revocations to assess operators’ financial viability.
The meeting also touched on an ongoing jurisdictional dispute between the Federal Government and Lagos State. Gbajabiamila clarified that “all online lottery activities fall under the Federal Government’s purview” and committed to resolving the issue for the benefit of all stakeholders involved.
“The bottom line is revenue, and we are ready to share it with states,” he concluded, reaffirming the NLRC’s dedication to supporting ANB members and promising to engage with the Presidential Committee on tax regulations and other regulatory concerns raised during the meeting.
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