Nigeria’s Capital Gives Gambling Licensees Seven Days to Act
The Federal Capital Territory Lottery Regulatory Office (FCT-LRO) announced the requirement on November 9, saying it had begun full regulatory operations. Existing National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) licences will be recognised for their remaining term, provided operators follow the new procedure.
Seven Days to Start, With Existing Terms Preserved
The notice published on November 9 sets out three steps for former NLRC licensees:
- Submit their existing licences to the FCT-LRO for verification and documentation.
- Complete the required regularisation procedures.
- Obtain the corresponding FCT gaming licence.
Only the start of this process carries the seven-day deadline. Operators with valid NLRC licences can retain the unused portion of their original term. The regulator has not set a date by which every conversion must be finished.
Different Dates for Betting and Casino Licences
The FCT-LRO’s public operator list includes separate betting and casino approvals. SportyBet and Bet9ja provide two examples of brands with different licence expiry dates:
| Operator | Sports Betting Licence | Casino Licence |
|---|---|---|
| SportyBet | July 30, 2028 | June 30, 2028 |
| Bet9ja | September 12, 2029 | September 11, 2029 |
The dates are expiry dates. Both brands already have FCT entries, and neither can be described as awaiting conversion on the strength of this list alone.
Why Abuja Is Reviewing Old Federal Licences
The legal split goes back to November 2024. Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruled that federal lottery law could no longer govern the states. Abuja was an exception.
The FCT-LRO now wants operators to submit their old NLRC licences for review and conversion. The notice sets no new gaming taxes or payment fees.
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