Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority and FSGRN Take Enforcement Action Following Unmet Compliance Notices and Tax Omissions
The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), in collaboration with the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), has officially declared Stake’s gaming operations unlawful in Lagos State and across the 24 member states of the federation. Regulators stated that the Easygo-owned brand has failed to secure proper licensing, evaded no fewer than ten formal compliance notices over the past two years, and omitted the registration, declaration, and remittance of applicable monthly gaming taxes and levies.
The enforcement action follows the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s ruling in Attorney-General of Lagos State & Ors v. Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors (SC/1/2008), which affirmed the constitutional authority of individual states to regulate lotteries, betting, and gaming. Consequently, authorities have ordered financial institutions, payment service providers, fintech companies, advertising platforms, and influencers to cease facilitating unlicensed gambling activities. Members of the public are strongly advised to discontinue wagering on Stake.com and patronize only duly licensed operators.
In a joint statement shared on LinkedIn, the regulatory authorities emphasized their operational stance:
“LSLGA and FSGRN remain committed to protecting Nigerian consumers, safeguarding minors, preserving market integrity and ensuring that gaming operators comply fully with applicable state laws and tax obligations.”
While Stake has recently expanded its regulated market presence into regions such as Mexico, Argentina’s Buenos Aires province, and Denmark (following the acquisition of VinderPlay operator MocinoPlay), it has faced regulatory challenges elsewhere. These include an exit from the British iGaming market last year following a Gambling Commission investigation, as well as heightened scrutiny over brand ambassador agreements in Belgium. Stake declined to comment when approached by industry media.
