Nigeria First in Africa to Launch Unified SafePlay Portal

Nigeria is the first country in Africa to announce an official national campaign dedicated to raising awareness about gambling addiction. On August 6 at The Regent Luxury Suites in Ikeja, after long discussions with officials and national stakeholders, the initiative was presented to the public.

The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has launched the national SafePlay portal – a unified system of safety tools designed to help players not only manage their gambling habits but also address the underlying causes that can lead to addiction.

Self-exclusion tools: Once players are enrolled in the system, they can choose from a 3-month to 5-year self-exclusion period, during which they will be banned from all national gambling platforms. All operators must refrain from sending any promotion or other marketing materials to customers who have activated this option. 

Support tools and education materials: the main goal of the initiative is not only to help players to insulate themselves from gambling but to provide them with effective tools and support links for reaching complex solutions related to excessive gambling problems. 

The integration of the SafePlay tool is a mandatory requirement for all Lagos-licensed operators and is one of the key conditions for obtaining and keeping a license. This ensures every player can access the SafePlay portal and that a unified database of vulnerable players is maintained. However, this has sparked concerns within the gambling community. Many players are reluctant to be included in a large central database, even if they value safer play. 

Those who prioritize privacy often turn to NEW casino sites not on Gamstop, which are not linked to national databases and offer blockchain payments for complete anonymity. This is why a balanced decision is highly demanded here. From one point of view, we need a stable, safe environment for all players; from the other side, the willingness to stay anonymous is also reasonable. To avoid revenue reduction, national operators have to offer complex solutions. 

Despite the new challenges the new approach sets in front of gambling operators, most of them agree that one unified portal will have a positive impact on the industry as a whole.  

Gift Tuadibofia, Executive Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers, during the official meeting, responded:

“This tool speaks to the future of regulation. Data-driven, humane, and inclusive.” 

 Abiola Bashir LSLGA CEO completed:

“We are proud to be the first subnational authority in Nigeria to implement a comprehensive self-exclusion programme. It is a major step in building a responsible, ethical, and inclusive gaming ecosystem.”

The goal is to replace the one-sided approach in responsible gambling approach, handled by each operator individually, and to create a national unified system accessible to all consumers regardless of the operator they choose. The support of state officials is crucial here and cannot be denied either by operators or society itself. 

Fasan Oluyemisi, former Chief Administrative Officer of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission in her statement emphasized the importance of the initiative:

“It goes beyond revenue generation. It prioritizes people and their well-being in regulation.”

Oluyemisi noted the importance of safe gambling practices and sufficient information about risks of gambling addiction. 

“Many people battling gambling addiction often suffer quietly, as the signs are not always visible, unlike substance abuse. That is why raising awareness and providing access to tools like SafePlay is so important. It offers individuals the opportunity to make informed, healthy decisions, without fear, shame or blame.”

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