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    Nigeria
    18+Gamble responsibly

    Nigeria · Betting laws

    Is Sports Betting Legal in Nigeria?

    Since the Supreme Court ruling of 22 November 2024, each state regulates betting itself, and operators need a licence from the state where they take bets. The federal National Lottery Regulatory Commission now covers only the Federal Capital Territory.

    Legal age
    18+
    Licensed sportsbooks
    7
    Tax on winnings
    5% in Lagos

    By Legal Betting Reviews editorial team · Updated

    At a glance

    Minimum age
    18+
    Tax on winnings
    In Lagos, a 5% withholding tax has been deducted from online bettors' net winnings since February 2026.
    Self-exclusion
    No national scheme yet; use each sportsbook's own self-exclusion tool.
    Help
    Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (SafePlay self-exclusion) · lslga.org

    The main laws

    • 2005

      National Lottery Act 2005

      Federal law that the Supreme Court held in 2024 cannot regulate gaming in the states.

    • 2021

      Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law

      The Lagos State law under which the LSLGA licenses betting operators.

    How to check a sportsbook's licence

    1. Find which state regulator licensed the operator; the site should display it.
    2. Check the operator on that regulator's website, for example the LSLGA for Lagos.
    3. For the Federal Capital Territory, check with the NLRC.

    Recent changes

    1. The Supreme Court ruled that states, not the federal government, regulate lotteries and gaming.

    2. The President declined to sign the Central Gaming Bill, which would have created a federal online regulator.

    3. Lagos introduced a 5% withholding tax on online betting winnings.

    Sources

    This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the regulator's website for the latest rules.