Nigeria’s President turned down the Central Gaming Bill. The leader will not sign this legislation. Congress might pass the bill, but presidential approval remains blocked.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu isn’t budging on the Central Gaming Bill. He told everyone at the APC’s National Executive Committee meeting on Friday that he won’t sign it, even if the National Assembly passes it. Tinubu made it clear he stands by the Supreme Court’s November 2024 decision, which says state governments, not the federal government, have the authority to regulate lotteries and games of chance. For him, that ruling isn’t up for debate. Any push for central control over gaming goes against the Constitution, period.

Tinubu Says He Will Never Approve a Central Bill

Tinubu stood before his party members at the APC meeting and didn’t mince words. He flat-out rejected the idea of any centralised gaming or lottery regulation. “I wasn’t involved in drafting any central bill, and if one lands on my desk, I won’t sign it,” he said. He leaned in, speaking directly to the room: “Forget about a centralised lotto.” For those still pushing for it, he had blunt advice: “Go and read the constitution again.”

Tinubu broke it down. Lottery and gaming? They’re not federal issues. Under Nigeria’s constitution, these are residual matters, meaning the states, not the federal government, call the shots. “That’s where my legislative power as president stops. These residual issues are for the states alone,” he told them. “Don’t even bother arguing.” He wrapped up by doubling down on his stance. “I am a constitutional democrat. Lotteries, lottos, gaming, centralised or not, I’m not signing any bill like that into law.” With that, he thanked everyone and ended his speech.

Lagos State Board Lauds President’s Stance

The Lagos State board didn’t hold back; they applauded the president for his clear stance on gaming regulation. When the Supreme Court ruled last November, it completely changed the game in Nigeria’s gambling industry. Federal control over gambling and lottery? Gone. Now, state legislative assemblies call the shots.

The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), which speaks for 24 state governments, has backed this move from the start. They’ve pushed hard against the Central Gaming Bill, fighting to keep it out of the National Assembly. For them, that bill is just the National Lottery Act of 2005 in disguise, an act the Supreme Court already struck down. The FSGRN insists that both laws tried to let the federal government keep its grip on gaming through licensing and enforcement, even though the court ruled that it was unconstitutional.

Still, lawmakers kept trying to pass the bill for months. Then President Tinubu spoke up, and the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) quickly voiced its support. In a statement Friday, the LSLGA said the president had made it crystal clear: regulating gaming and lottery falls to the states, just as the Constitution says. “With this clear presidential position, the matter is laid to rest,” the statement read. “Nigeria’s federal structure stands, and constitutional democracy is upheld.”

Nigeria’s Central Gaming Bill Moves Through the National Assembly

Nigeria’s Central Gaming Bill is back in the spotlight. In November, the National Assembly tried again to push the bill forward, undeterred by loud objections from state regulators, legal scholars, and public interest groups. Critics, legal and advisory bodies alike, didn’t hold back. Obinna Akpuchkwu, a gaming law specialist at Allen & Marylebone, didn’t mince words. He called the Assembly’s push “unconstitutional” and “unfounded.” Passing the bill, he said, wouldn’t change anything. “The current attempt to enact the Central Gaming Bill into law will only be a wasted effort,” Akpuchkwu warned. Now, with President Tinubu’s recent comments, Akpuchkwu feels his point stands stronger than ever.

This comes at a key moment for Nigeria’s iGaming industry. Christmas always brings a surge in activity; operators count on the festive season. Yet, regulatory uncertainty has overshadowed the usual excitement, fueling debate across the sector. But with President Tinubu flat-out rejecting centralised gaming laws, most stakeholders see the question as settled, at least for now. As the busiest season kicks off, Nigeria’s gaming industry finally has a clear regulatory path and an unambiguous signal from the top.