How to check a Lagos gaming licence in four steps
We will go through the record in the order the Authority has presented it.
- Search the register of licensed operators
Go to lslga.org and click on “List of Licensed Operators.” The Authority has broken down the record into 15 categories. Use the Ctrl + F command to find the name of the organization you are looking for. If you are unable to locate it, search for the name of the company.
- Read the licence end date
The record states that once the authorization end-date passes, the operator is not legally allowed to operate until the Authorization is renewed.
- Search both unlicensed lists
Here is the list of illegal operators and a general notice of unlicensed operators.
- Report a site that is missing
When in doubt, the Authority has directed members of the public to report unpermitted operations.
What the Lagos gaming register shows
This search was conducted on the 25th of September, 2026.
- Online sports betting or online casino75
- Casinos, hotel and standalone17
- Other games, gamification, promotions25
- Public online lottery11
- Gaming machines, pools, B2B, permits, poker20
Grouped categories of the labels of entries in the record.
Reading the register dates carefully
Four things we found on 25 September 2026.
- 35 end dates have already passed
The Authority has stated that an expiration of a permit automatically revokes authorization to operate until the permit is renewed.
- Some start dates are in the future
The start date of Bet9ja's current row is 3rd October 2026 and Melbet's is 2nd December 2026. Generally, an earlier renewal is the reason a permit is issued with a future start date.
- Dates contain typing errors
"Febuary", "Jaunary", "Apil", and days that do not exist, such as 31 April and 31 November. Read the month and year, and ask the Authority if it matters.
- Company names can differ from the footer
The permit is issued to “Beauforbet Nigeria Limited”. The footer of 1xbet.ng says it is issued to “BEAUFORTBET NIGERIA LIMITED”. Both parties should match the dates of the permit.
The two Lagos lists of unlicensed operators
They are different pages, from different years.
| Page | What it is | Names | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| lslga.org/illegal-operators | List of illegal gaming companies, citing Section 33(3) | 44, including Stake.com, Bet365 and Rainbet | Current; do not use these |
| lslga.org/lagos-unlicensed-gaming-operators | Public notice naming 37 unlicensed operators, published 31 December 2021 | 37, including Cloudbet, Bet365 and Superbet | Old; several names are now on the register |
The 2021 notice names 22bet, Betwinner, Melbet, Paripesa and Livescorebet, which all appear on the register today. So a name on the old notice does not prove a brand is unlicensed now, and a name missing from the new list does not prove it is licensed. The register is the document that decides. Cloudbet, for example, is named in the 2021 notice and is still not on the register; our Cloudbet review says so.
Matching a betting site's footer to the Lagos register
The last check, and the one most people skip.
- The footer of 1xbet.ng says that permit SBOC/1XB06AG15/0004/V1 is issued to Beaufortbet Nigeria Limited and is valid from 6th August 2026 to 5th August 2027. The same permit is also listed in the register.
- 22bet.ng: the footer quotes Lagos licence LSLGA/OP/OSB/22B230524; the register lists Arcadia Hospitality Limited to 22 May 2027.
- The footer of betwinner.ng says permit SBOC/BW08JN22/0020/V1 is issued to Advanced Hospitality Limited and is valid from 7th June 2026 to 6th April 2027.
- In general, different companies hold the same trading name in different countries. The Lagos State license only allows betting activities on the .ng domain.
The FSGRN’s framework for Universal Reciprocity is the basis for the SBOC permits. It is in effect for all member states, and is reflected on the Lagos register. For more information on state licenses, reciprocity permits and foreign licenses and their relationship with crypto gambling in Nigeria, please see our dedicated article.
How to report a betting company in Lagos
The Authority's official channels.
Include the site address, the company name from its footer, and screenshots. For a licensed operator, add your account ID and the dates of the problem. A casino licensed abroad is outside the Authority's reach for your money; your complaint there goes to the casino and its own regulator.
Lagos gaming licences: common questions
On September 25, 2026, the LSLGA register listed 148 entries, with 75 of those entries being online sports betting, and online casinos. Some of those entries included 1XBET.NG, 22Bet, Betwinner, and others.
To file a complaint, use the form on lslga.org/contact, e-mail info@lslga.org, or call +234 (0)808 052 5752.
After the 2024 Supreme Court ruling, States gained the authority to regulate gambling within their jurisdictions. In Lagos, this function is exercised by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority. The NLRC covers only the FCT, and other State Commissions work coordinatively through the FSGRN.
No, Marawin Limited, doing business as SportyBet, is an online sports betting and online casino business, situated on the Lagos State register, with a valid license up to January 4, 2027, as of the investigation date, September 25, 2026.
A licence also means tools
Lagos licensees must let you exclude yourself.
In accordance with the Lagos State Responsible Gaming Regulations, 2021, gaming operators are required to offer and facilitate self-exclusion. The LSLGA also maintains an exclusion list.
The best and most important thing to do is to take a break and communicate with a trusted friend or family member.
Gamble Alert: +234 916 295 7989 (24/7), toll-free +234 705 889 0073. MANI: 0809 111 6264.
Free, confidential helplines. You must be 18 or older to gamble.