Sports Betting and Lottery: Hon. Canice Moore Nwachukuwu led Committee On Inter-governmental Affairs Conducts Public Hearing
On Wednesday, the 8th day of May 2024, The House Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs ably chaired by Hon. High Chief Canice Moore Chukwugozie Nwachukuwu (Omeogo, Ogbaturuenyi Na Orlu) conducted a public hearing with respect to a motion and subsequent referral, on the “Need to Curtail the Dangerous Effects of Sport Betting/Gambling and Direct the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to comply with the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act, 2005”.
The occasion was declared opened by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas who was duly represented by the House leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. He emphasized the need for resourceful inputs to be made to enhance legislative results. He also commended the Committee Chairman and Members for organizing this key legislative tool.
The public hearing drew a large crowd ranging from key players and figures within and outside the gaming and lottery industry. The apex regulator, the National Lottery Regulatory Commission presented a paper on their efforts to uphold global standards and practices within the sector and guaranteed its continuous supervision and control of all gaming operations in the country. Representatives of Government Institutions under the purview of the Committee on Inter-Governmental affairs such as the Secretary of Government of the Federation (SGF) and National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) were also present and offered their views and recommendations to the Committee.
Also present at the event, the National Lottery Trust Fund made known its contributions to the Nigerian society through statutory remittances of lottery proceeds. The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Association of Nigerian Bookmakers, Licenced Lottery Operators Forum, Prominent sports betting operators like Bet9ja, and several Non Profit Organizations such as Gaming Safe Initiative (GAMSAFE), GambleAlert and many others contributed strategically to the session. The focus was mainly on the need to put mechanisms in place to help in curbing gambling addictions, under-age involvements and excesses.
The mover of the motion, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu who was in attendance stressed the need for laws safeguarding players’ interests to be laid out in amendments of the existing Act guiding the industry.
During the interactive session, the Chairman and Honorable Members engaged the stakeholders with vital questions on how they have implemented player protection strategies and if they are in effect.
The Chairman, Hon. High Chief Nwachukwu also emphasized the need for a Central Monitoring System (CMS) to be put in place to monitor the activities within the gaming and lottery system, and vowed to pursue it to it’s logical inclusion to ensure CMS is captured in the supplementary budget.
All parties came to consensus on the fact that the gaming industry is a viable one for economic growth and revenue generation and other social responsibilities, but that adequate laws must be put in place to prevent adverse effects on players especially under-age.
The Chairman promised oversight visits to various organizations within the industry so as to familiarize and get hands on information on their general operations. Quoting the Chairman Verbatim; “For us to produce good result, we must ensure that our contributions are to be determined not by narrow considerations of personal or group interests but be geared towards the best interest of Nigerian citizens, I therefore urge all of us to bear in mind that, in a true democracy, people are expected to listen to each other even if they disagree. So let us aspire to treat each other fairly in our presentations as our presence here is an act of highest patriotism.
Distinguished visitors and colleagues, let me express, on behalf of the House Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs, our most sincere wish that, the discussions and engagements resulting from today’s meeting will positively contribute to the consolidation of the aims and objectives underlying this referral”.