The Central Gaming Bill, passed by the Senate in December 2025, aimed to establish a federal framework <\/strong>for all online and remote gaming and to repeal <\/strong>the National Lottery Act of 2005 and its 2017 amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislation was highly contested in parliament<\/strong>, with some lawmakers pushing for federal oversight<\/strong>, but state regulators and legal experts warned it conflicted with a 2024 Supreme Court ruling confirming that gaming falls under state legislative<\/strong> authority, except for federal matters such as cross-border operations. The bill then awaited President Tinubu\u2019s assent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tinubu made his stance clear<\/strong> at an All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee <\/strong>meeting in Abuja. \u201cWhat I want you to forget is a centralised lotto; go and read the constitution<\/strong> again. That remains a residual matter where my exclusive legislative capacity<\/strong> as the president starts and ends; such residual matters belong exclusively to the state,” he said, according to AffPapa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tinubu added: \u201cDon\u2019t tread near it. There\u2019s no need for us to argue. I am a constitutional democrat. Lotteries<\/strong>, lottos, lotto laws, gaming, centralised<\/strong> or whatever it is you call it, I\u2019m not going to sign<\/strong> such a bill into law<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The President\u2019s decision was seen by state regulators<\/strong> as a victory, following months of fierce pushback <\/strong>against the proposed federal framework. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN) described the bill as \u201can open affront <\/strong>on the supremacy of the Constitution and the authority of the Supreme Court of Nigeria\u201d. Lagos State also warned that it violated the 2024 Supreme Court judgment, with one official calling it a \u201cvoyage of unconstitutionality<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Legal challenges<\/strong> had been led by Lagos State. The Lagos State Attorney-General<\/strong>, through Chief Wole Olanipekun, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), formally urged President Tinubu not to assent to the bill, pointing out that the legislation \u201cpurports to repeal<\/strong> the National Lottery Act, as if same was an existing law that had not been nullified by the judgment of the Supreme Court\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Analysts note that Tinubu\u2019s refusal effectively ends efforts to federalise gaming regulation and aligns with the Supreme Court <\/strong>ruling. Meanwhile, Lagos State is reportedly exploring further legal action<\/strong> against the National Assembly, seeking permission to initiate contempt proceedings for pursuing the bill despite the court ruling, according to PM News Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For operators, Tinubu\u2019s decision provides regulatory certainty, making it clear that licensing, compliance and expansion<\/strong> must be coordinated with state regulators. Businesses can now plan investments, digital operations and local partnerships<\/strong> under a stable legal framework for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\nDecision delivers certainty for operators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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