The Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has taken a decisive step by blacklisting approximately 45 betting companies within the state.
News About Nigeria gathered this action was taken due to these companies failing to acquire the necessary licenses required for their operations in the region.
The announcement of this significant development was made through an official statement posted on the Lagos State Gaming and Lottery Authority’s X account. In the statement, Lagosians were strongly cautioned against engaging with these betting platforms.
The state government clarified that the failure of these companies to obtain the essential licenses was a direct violation of the provisions laid out in the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authorities Law.
Among the bet platforms that have been blacklisted by the Lagos State Government are ZEBET, BETIKA, GOBET, MSPORT, 22BET, AFRIBET, BESTBET360, BANGBET, BETWAZOBIA, NETBET, NAIRAMILLION, WESTERN LOTTO, ELLIEST LOTTO, RIDERLOTTO, PEELSLOTTO, SETLOTTO, HAMABET, KORETBET, PARIPESA, MEGABET, LIVESCOREBET, BLACKBET/BETTYBINGO, CLOUDBET, SPORTBET.IO, HALLABET, and ODDSPEDIA.
Others are N1BET, NGAWIN, MILLIONAIREPOWERPLAY, LOTTOMANIA, FIRSTBET, BETXPERIENCE, GIVERAFFLE, KONFAMBET, WAKABET, BETFARM, SCRATCH2WIN, CHOPBARH, NAIJABET, PLENTYMILLIONS, NAIRAPOWERBET, GAMESPAY, XTRAGOALSFANTASY.
This warning is issued at a time when sports betting is gaining increasing popularity among Nigerian youths. Reports indicate that Nigerian youths have turned to sports betting as they grapple with the challenging economic conditions in the wake of the removal of fuel subsidies.
It’s worth noting that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies upon assuming office as the country’s president resulted in a significant spike in fuel prices, soaring from approximately N186 per litre to well over N600 per litre, the current price.
Consequently, this move led to a rise in the country’s unemployment rate as businesses struggled to cope with the elevated operational costs. Nevertheless, many Nigerian youths have continued to view sports betting as a potential means of generating income to survive in the face of the challenging economic environment.
