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Stake.com has been formally declared unlawful in Lagos and 24 other Nigerian States by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), working alongside the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN).
Regulators explained that the operator holds no licence in any of the States, has ignored repeated compliance notices, and failed to remit taxes and levies over the past two years.
The Supreme Court ruling in Attorney‑General of Lagos State & Ors v. Attorney‑General of the Federation & Ors (SC/1/2008), delivered in November 2024, confirmed that States have constitutional authority to regulate lotteries, betting and gaming. Based on that precedent, LSLGA and FSGRN stressed that no operator can legally offer services without a State licence.
Enforcement measures are now being taken not only against Stake.com itself but also against its directors and any banks, payment companies, advertising platforms, influencers or other entities found to be facilitating its operations.
The regulator advised members of the public to stop wagering on Stake.com and to use only licensed operators. Financial institutions, fintechs and media outlets have also been urged to carry out due diligence and withdraw support from unlicensed activity.
Lagos leads call for stronger safeguards as Africa launches safer gambling week
Both LSLGA and FSGRN said their priority is to protect consumers, safeguard minors, uphold market integrity and ensure that all operators meet their obligations under State law.
The release also comes during the inaugural Africa Safer Gambling Week, held from September 7 to 11, where Lagos State joined industry stakeholders to push for stronger player‑protection measures across the continent.
At the launch, Bashir Are, Chief Executive Officer of LSLGA, explained that the initiative was driven by the need to reinforce responsible gaming practices across jurisdictions. He noted that enforcement against underage gambling had already been intensified in Lagos, with teams deployed across three districts.
“My entire enforcement team is on the streets all over Lagos. We are divided into three districts, especially to make sure that underage people are not permitted to gamble or to do otherwise,” he said, warning operators that sanctions would follow if minors were allowed to play.
The campaign is not limited to Nigeria. Regulators, operators, industry associations and technology providers from countries including Cuba, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania have joined forces to promote safer gambling.
Activities will extend to universities to educate young people about addiction and responsible play, while in Lagos awareness drives will also reach commuters through trains and Bus Rapid Transit buses.
Olabimpe Akingba, board member of the Africa Gaming Alliance and Head of Responsible Gaming at BetPawa, highlighted that many tools for safer gambling already exist but are underused. “Customers are often unaware of them or do not know how to use them,” she said, according to The Guardian Nigeria.
Kayode Lawal, CEO of Safe Gaming Technologies, added that his company has introduced a self‑exclusion platform, SafePlay, which allows gamblers to voluntarily block themselves from participating across registered operators in Lagos.
Akingba explained that the week of action was meant to raise awareness and remind players that gambling is entertainment, not a source of income.
