The Cross River State Lotteries and Gaming Agency has declared Stake.com an unlicensed gaming operator in the state, warning residents to stop wagering on the platform and patronise only duly licensed operators.
The declaration was contained in a public notice signed by the agency’s Director-General, Michael Eja, in collaboration with the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN), which said Stake.com was not licensed by Cross River or any of the federation’s member states to conduct gaming operations.
The regulators alleged that Stake.com had also failed to register, declare or remit applicable monthly gaming taxes and levies despite receiving no fewer than 10 formal compliance notices over the past two years.
They said the alleged failure to comply with regulatory requirements had necessitated enforcement action against the operator and other entities facilitating its activities within the affected jurisdictions.
According to the regulators, “appropriate enforcement action” would be taken against Stake.com, its directors and any payment companies, financial institutions, advertising platforms, influencers or other entities found to be facilitating its operations.
The authorities said the regulatory action was backed by the Supreme Court judgment in Attorney-General of Lagos State & Ors v. Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors (SC/1/2008), delivered on November 22, 2024, which affirmed the constitutional authority of states to regulate lotteries, betting and gaming.
The regulators said the judgment “reinforces the position that gaming operators must obtain the required state licence before offering gaming services within a state.”
Against this backdrop, the Cross River agency and the FSGRN urged members of the public to “discontinue wagering on Stake.com” and patronise only gaming operators duly licensed by the relevant state regulatory authorities.
The regulators also called on banks, payment service providers, fintech companies, media organisations and digital advertising platforms to conduct appropriate due diligence and “stop facilitating unlicensed gaming activities.”
They said the enforcement action was aimed at “protecting consumers, safeguarding minors, preserving market integrity” and ensuring that gaming operators comply with applicable state laws and tax obligations.
The authorities further urged all stakeholders in the gaming industry to respect state licensing requirements, stressing that operators must obtain the necessary approvals before offering gaming services within their jurisdictions.
Eja said the agency remained committed to enforcing the state’s gaming laws, protecting consumers and ensuring that gaming operators meet their licensing, regulatory and tax obligations.
By Kingsley Agim
