Lagos, Oyo Governments Join Gamble Alert to Promote Safer Gambling in Nigeria
State Governments Step Up to Tackle Gambling Addiction
The Lagos and Oyo State governments have declared strong support for Gamble Alert’s nationwide campaign to promote responsible gambling practices across Nigeria. The announcement was made during a Responsible Gaming Symposium hosted by Gamble Alert in Lagos on June 20, 2025.
The symposium brought together public officials, healthcare experts, gaming regulators, and operators to address the growing concerns over gambling addiction, especially among youth.
Lagos Prioritises Mental Health Infrastructure
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, emphasized that gambling cannot be outlawed but must be made safer through effective regulation and mental health interventions.
To support this, Lagos State is building West Africa’s largest mental health facility a 500-bed psychiatric hospital with an additional 1,000-bed rehabilitation wing. The state is also investing in:
Mental health helplines
Addiction rehabilitation training for health workers
A state-wide self-exclusion framework for problem gamblers
A centralized health database to track gambling-related disorders
Abayomi stressed the need for cross-sector collaboration to ensure that gambling regulation works hand-in-hand with public health goals.
Oyo State Strengthens Rural Outreach and Regulation
Director-General of the Oyo State Gaming and Lotteries Board, Boladuro Olajide, highlighted the state’s continued reforms to the gaming industry. Since 2023, Oyo has been enforcing stricter licensing and consumer protection policies.
Outreach campaigns have been extended into rural areas like Fokor, Akobo, and Igbeti, with roadshows, community engagements, and radio jingles focused on debunking myths around gambling.
“Our message is clear,” Olajide said. “Gambling is not a path to prosperity.”
Gamble Alert Calls for National Reforms
Fisayo Oke, CEO of Gamble Alert, called for urgent reforms across Nigeria’s gaming ecosystem, including:
Mandatory self-exclusion systems on all licensed platforms
Improved Know-Your-Customer (KYC) compliance by operators
Education initiatives to warn youth about gambling risks
A coordinated national response involving regulators, public health bodies, and civil society
“Responsible gambling is not optional,” Oke said. “It’s essential to the industry’s sustainability and to Nigeria’s public health.”
The Bigger Picture: Gambling Addiction in Nigeria
With over 60 million Nigerians engaging in betting activities and an estimated ₦730 billion wagered annually, experts warn that gambling addiction could become a public health crisis.
Lagos and Oyo’s joint backing of Gamble Alert’s campaign is being seen as a blueprint for responsible gambling across Nigeria especially at a time when online betting platforms are growing rapidly.
States Lead the Way on Safer Gambling
As both states commit to robust mental health investments and gaming regulation, stakeholders say this could set a precedent for other state governments to take decisive action.
The collaboration between Gamble Alert, state authorities, and industry players marks a turning point in Nigeria’s effort to make gambling safer, healthier, and more accountable.
