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Nigeria’s gaming industry is preparing for a major shift in how technology and software services are regulated.
At the Enugu Gaming Conference 2026 held at the International Conference Center, Enugu, the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, announced that the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) will review its registration requirements as they apply to digital and software‑delivered services.
The review will be carried out in consultation with industry stakeholders and reported before the end of the current quarter, according to the post-event article published by the Enugu State
The conference, held under the theme “Code, Capital and Compliance: Unlocking Nigeria’s iGaming Tech Opportunity,” brought together regulators, operators, investors, and innovators from across Nigeria and Africa.
Across sessions, speakers repeatedly stressed that Nigeria’s ability to attract capital and build indigenous gaming technology depends on regulatory clarity.
Updating NOTAP rules to match digital services
Delegates at Enugu agreed that existing NOTAP rules were written for older models of technology transfer and don’t fit the way software‑based services are licensed today.
Dr. Udeh promised, “a review of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion’s (NOTAP) registration requirements as they apply to digital and software‑delivered services, conducted in consultation with industry and reported by the end of the current quarter.”
He also invited the Enugu State Gaming Commission and operators to nominate representatives to take part in the review and promised to return in 2027 and report publicly on which undertakings had been fulfilled.
Tax, unlicensed gambling market, and more receive attention at EGC 2026
The Enugu Gaming Conference 2026 also saw delegates and speakers spend time on the broader issues shaping Nigeria’s gaming sector, from taxation and investment rules to the growing threat of unlicensed operators.
The discussions made clear that the industry’s future depends on more than market size. Predictable regulation, fair tax treatment, and strong player protection were all highlighted as essential if Nigeria is to attract capital and build trust.
Taxation was a key topic, with operators raising concerns about the effective tax burden under Nigeria’s new law, pointing to confusion around how winnings tax is treated compared to jackpot tax. Investors argued that compliance overhead and customer acquisition costs are already high, and unclear tax rules only add to the risk.
The NOTAP review was announced alongside broader commitments on responsible gaming. The conference emphasized that harm reduction cannot be left to operators alone. Regulators and government must share responsibility, extending monitoring beyond online play to agents and land‑based outlets.
Training agents to recognize at‑risk customers was one of the recommendations.
Investor confidence came up repeatedly. Delegates stressed that Nigeria’s large market is not enough on its own. What matters is regulatory predictability and institutional maturity. As one conclusion put it, “regulatory predictability, not market size alone, is what determines investor confidence in Nigerian gaming.”
