Lagos state gaming authority gathers Nigerian stakeholders together for safer gambling talks
Stakeholders at the briefing emphasised that gambling should remain an entertainment activity and called for greater cooperation across the industry to address gambling-related harm.
Nigeria.- The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has hosted a press conference with key gambling and healthcare stakeholders in Lagos to discuss safer gambling and player protection as part of Africa Safer Gambling Week.
The briefing, held at the LSLGA headquarters, brought together representatives from the regulatory community, gambling operators, industry associations, responsible-gambling organisations and healthcare services.
Participants included LSLGA chief executive officer Bashir Are; African iGaming Alliance (AiA) representative and pawaTech head of responsible gaming Olabimpe Akingba; Gamble Alert chief executive officer Fisayo Oke; SAFEPLAY Technologies chief executive officer Kayode Lawal; and Association of Nigerian Bookmakers executive secretary Gift Tuadibofa.
A key focus of the conference was the need to ensure that gambling remains an entertainment activity rather than being presented or viewed as a means of generating income or building wealth. Stakeholders stressed that players should understand the risks associated with gambling and use available safeguards when needed. They also rejected the idea that responsibility for safer gambling should rest solely with individual consumers.
Akingba said responsible gambling involves taking control of gambling activity, while acknowledging that some players may already have difficulty managing their behaviour. She pointed to the availability of tools and support platforms for people who have lost control and argued that regulators, operators, consumers, communities, researchers and mental health professionals all have roles to play in reducing gambling-related harm.
The discussion also highlighted the role of healthcare professionals in supporting people who develop gambling problems. Dr Abiola Salawu of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, said gambling stakeholders should work with specialists to create a safer environment and ensure that people who develop gambling addiction can obtain appropriate help and support.
Gamble Alert also argued that player protection should extend beyond simply telling consumers to gamble responsibly. The organisation said consumers need reliable information and realistic expectations about gambling, alongside access to safeguards and support when gambling begins to cause harm.
The press conference was one of several activities held to mark the inaugural Africa Safer Gambling Week, organised under the AiA’s #PlaySafeAfrica initiative to promote safer gambling and player protection across the continent. The campaign runs through September 11, with activities across participating markets covering public awareness, community outreach and regulatory engagement before concluding with a continental webinar.
