In the rapidly evolving landscape of the gaming industry in Nigeria, few voices carry as much weight as that of Olafadeke Akeju, Managing Partner at WYS Solicitors and Legal Counsel(Africa) & Partner, SteelRose Legal UK. Speaking to iGaming AFRIKA during the recent AGE Lagos 2025 conference, shared insights on the legal shifts in Nigeria’s gaming landscape. Olafadeke Akeju remains at the forefront of legal developments affecting operators across the country.
Akeju credited the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) as being instrumental in her career. “Age Lagos is a project that was initiated by Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority. I have a soft spot for the agency because that’s where I started, launched my career in the gaming industry. So yes, that means a lot to me. So when they do call, we’re here to support, we come running, we provide the support as needed and we’re willing to share our knowledge insights and whatever is required of us to make the success,” she said, highlighting her commitment to support and educate stakeholders as the industry transforms.
A major point of discussion in the interview was the landmark Supreme Court ruling that redefined the jurisdiction over gaming regulation in Nigeria. The judgment clarified a long-standing legal ambiguity: the constitutional responsibility for regulating and generating revenue from the gaming sector rests with state governments. “The judgment is actually a good call. It puts to rest an issue that has been ongoing since the inception of the gaming industry in Nigeria,” Akeju affirmed.
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However, with clarity came complexity. The gaming market today is vastly different from when the legal dispute first began, especially due to the rise of online platforms. “And those who are online operators, the challenges and who have by virtue of just wanting to operate online only, have subscribed to a national license, what that means for them is that right now they have no license. So the validity of their existence as operator has been called to question,” Akeju explained. These operators, having previously been licensed at the national level, now face regulatory uncertainty. In response, state regulators introduced a Universal Regulatory License (URL) framework, an effort to provide a unified yet state-based path for continued operations across 24 of the 36 Nigerian states.
Even so, implementation challenges abound. “But you know, policy shifts like this, does take time, implementing, you know, ironing out all of the things, it will take a bit of time, which is the phase we are at, at this time.,” Akeju noted. Furthermore, each state’s regulatory authority must secure government approval to adopt the URL framework, raising concerns about long-term stability, particularly with potential changes in state leadership.
To support a smooth transition, WYS Solicitors is actively advising various industry groups, including the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers, the Lottery Operators’ Forum, and Casino Operators. The firm’s goal is to ensure “operators have a seamless experience” despite the fluid legal environment.
While the recent ruling marks a turning point, Olafadeke Akeju stresses that the journey is just beginning. “It is effectively about three, four months ago. So it’s still early days,” she said. With new legislation, like the proposed Remote Gaming Bill, still under debate, the sector remains in a state of watchful adaptation.