Enugu State Gaming Commission denies links with Betjapa
The Commission described the platform’s use of a fake ESGC licence as “criminal misrepresentation” and warned that it will pursue legal action against those responsible.
Nigeria.- The Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission (ESGC) has issued a strong public statement rejecting any connection with Betjapa, an online betting platform that suddenly disappeared after months of player complaints over unpaid winnings and a forged licence.
In an official release dated November 26, 2025, the ESGC stated that Betjapa was never granted permission to operate in Enugu State or anywhere else in Nigeria.
The Commission described the platform’s use of a fake ESGC licence as “criminal misrepresentation” and warned that it will pursue legal action against those responsible.
Betjapa offered sports betting, virtual games and casino products to thousands of Nigerian users before it went offline in mid-November. Dozens of players say they are still waiting for withdrawals of individual amounts owed ranging from ₦16,000 (€9.56) to more than ₦400,000 (€238.8). Many only discovered the problem when the site stopped loading and customer support went silent.
The betting service ran on FlexBet, a white-label sportsbook engine owned by DME Systems Limited, a technology company registered in Douala, Cameroon. According to the ESGC, Betjapa displayed a counterfeit licence certificate on its homepage that carried the Commission’s name and logo but had never been issued by the regulator.
More than two weeks ago, the ESGC sent a formal demand letter to DME Systems requiring the company to reveal the identity of its local Nigerian partners, pay the prescribed regulatory fines and start a proper licence application if it wished to continue serving customers in the state. However, DME Systems did not respond to any of the requests. Instead, after complaints spread widely on social media, the company took Betjapa offline and made selective refunds to a small number of users.
Prince Arinze Arum, Executive Secretary of the ESGC, said in the official statement: “Their refusal to obey regulatory directives and the sudden closure of the platform after public outcry clearly show an attempt to avoid responsibility. This is deliberate exploitation of Nigerian citizens through illegal gaming activities.”
The Commission has now warned all operators that anyone using DME Systems’ technology in Nigeria without a valid local licence will face sanctions. It also stated that representatives of the Cameroonian firm risk arrest if they enter the country, and that it intends to explore international legal options to seek compensation for damages and protect its reputation.
Players affected by Betjapa have been directed to file formal reports through the ESGC portal. The regulator stressed that genuine licensing applications and enquiries must always go through its official channels and never through third-party agents or foreign technology providers.
The incident is the latest in a series of unlicensed platform failures in Nigeria this year. It comes as state gaming commissions work to tighten oversight and harmonise regulations in light of the Supreme Court’s decision stripping the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) of its powers. Industry sources say the case will likely speed up plans for the implementation of a public registry of approved technology suppliers, to help prevent similar problems in the future.
