Cross River cracks down on unlicensed betting platforms
The Cross River State Lotteries and Gaming Agency Law 2025 provides the legal foundation for the agency to collaborate with tech giants like Google.
Nigeria.- The Cross River State Lotteries and Gaming Agency (CRSLGA) has launched a targeted effort to identify and penalise unlicensed online lottery and sports betting platforms operating within the state.
Michael Eja, the agency’s Director-General, outlined the initiative during a briefing in Abuja on October 8, emphasising its role in safeguarding local bettors and levelling the field for registered operators.
Eja explained that the agency faced longstanding hurdles in regulating digital platforms without a local footprint. He said: “The main issue was enforcement against online operators lacking physical presence in the state. That changed with the passage of the Cross River State Lotteries and Gaming Agency Law 2025, signed by Governor Bassey Otu earlier this year.
The legislation provides the legal foundation for the agency to collaborate with tech giants like Google. Recently onboarded by the tech giant, CRSLGA can now request the removal of illicit content, the blocking of advertisements, and support for court actions against violators. This arrangement benefits licensed platforms as they will face little competition from unregulated sites and will be permitted to run targeted ads on Google within the state, starting October 15.
Eja described the shift as practical for everyday users. He noted: “Players in Calabar and beyond deserve platforms that pay out reliably and follow rules. This setup lets compliant operators reach customers legally, while we handle the rest.”
The move is in concert with wider regulatory coordination across Nigeria. In May, CRSLGA joined the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN) in adopting a reciprocity licensing system, allowing a single permit to operate nationwide among 25 member states.
Eja, who helped shape the framework, projects it will generate billions in shared revenue for states through an 11 per cent tax on gross gaming income and standardised annual fees of 100 million naira per operator, effective 2026. To drive early adoption, the FSGRN offers users fee waivers this year.
Eja added: “Harmonising licences cuts costs for companies and boosts our internal revenue without raising taxes on residents. It funds local needs like schools and roads, real benefits for communities.”
The CRSLGA plans to conduct regular audits and issue public advisories to guide operators toward compliance. As the Nigerian betting market matures, such state-level actions could set a template for others, ensuring revenue flows to public funds while minimising risks for participants.
