Is crypto gambling legal in Nigeria? The short answer
Three separate questions, three answers.
- Crypto ownership and trading are legal, as evidenced by the Investments and Securities Act, 2025.
- It is legal to gamble only with state-licensed operators. The state of Lagos legally authorizes online gambling and sports betting. Some licensed and regulated book makers accept cryptocurrency.
- It is unclear what the consequences are for individuals that gamble at unlicensed, international cryptocurrency casinos. The Lagos State laws were designed to criminalize the operators of these casinos and agencies that promote them. However, we did not find the law criminalizes individuals that gamble at these casinos. Also, it is important to note that these individuals are not legally protected in Nigeria.
The next section of this report will explain these laws in detail and provide information on how the general public can check the licenses of online casinos.
Is crypto legal in Nigeria? From the CBN ban to SEC rules
The rules changed a lot in five years.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directed commercial banks not to transact businesses with entities that deal in cryptocurrencies. Owning cryptos is not unlawful but transacting businesses with banks is prohibited.
In December 2023, the CBN announced revision of its policies to allow licensed cryptocurrency businesses.
Binance ends naira P2P trading.
The Investments and Securities Act, 2025 (ISA) transferred the responsibility of regulating digital assets to the SEC.
The SEC set a deadline of 30th June, 2027 for minimum capital rules for digital asset service providers.
Legally speaking, crypto is allowed and regulated. You can legally purchase it through the SEC-listed exchanges. For naira purchase, you can follow our Litecoin purchase process.
Who licenses gambling in Nigeria now
After 22 November 2024, the states.
In Attorney General of Lagos State v Attorney General of the Federation, decided on 22 November 2024, the Supreme Court held that the National Assembly cannot legislate on lotteries and games of chance. The National Lottery Act 2005 now applies only in the Federal Capital Territory. Every state licenses gambling itself, and the states coordinate through the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN).
| Licence | Who issues it | Covers | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| State licence | A state board, such as the LSLGA in Lagos | That state | 22bet.ng: Lagos LSLGA/OP/OSB/22B230524 |
| Universal Reciprocity permit | FSGRN member states together | Every member state | 1xbet.ng: SBOC/1XB06AG15/0004/V1 |
| NLRC permit | National Lottery Regulatory Commission | The FCT only, since 2024 | bcbet.ng: permit #2005793 |
| Foreign licence | Anjouan, Curaçao, Tobique, Nevis and others | No Nigerian state | Thrill, BitStarz, Cloudbet, Winna |
Where crypto casinos fit in Nigerian law
Two very different kinds of casino take crypto.
- Lagos-licensed books that accept crypto
Litecoin is offered as a payment option by 1XBET.NG, 22Bet.NG, and BetWinner.NG, which are licensed by Lagos State or enjoyed reciprocity.
- International crypto casinos
BC.Game, Cloudbet, Thrill, BitStarz, Roobet, etc. are not licensed by any state in Nigeria, and are not on the Lagos State list.
- Operators Lagos has named illegal
The list released by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority names 44 companies, which include Medium Rara NV (Stake.com), RB Gaming N.V. (Rainbet), and Bet365. We never list them.
According to Section 33(3) of Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law 2021, no person shall undertake any gaming activity in Lagos State unless authorized or licensed to do so by the Authority. The Authority has instituted suits against unauthorized gaming companies operating in Nigeria.
What Nigerian gambling law means for you as a player
The practical side, beyond the statute.
At a Lagos-licensed book, a dispute can go to the LSLGA, and licensees must offer self-exclusion under the Lagos Responsible Gaming Regulations 2021. At an international casino, your only routes are the casino's support and its foreign regulator. That difference matters more than anything else on this page when a withdrawal goes wrong.
For Lagos State betting operators, the Withholding Tax rate is 5% and has been in effect since February 2026. For further details regarding who is mandated to withhold taxes, please see our article on Tax on Gambling Winnings.
How to check if a crypto casino is legal in Nigeria
Four checks, all on public pages.
- Read the footer
Find the company name and licence number. A Lagos licence or FSGRN permit number is printed in full on the licensed .ng sites.
- Search the Lagos register
A list of licensees is published on LSLGA's website.
- Search the illegal list
If the name of the company is listed, further research is not required.
- For a foreign licence, open the regulator's own page
The registers and validators, for what they're worth, are published by The Republic of Anjouan, Tobique Gaming Commission and Nevis Online Gaming Authority. Footer links to help pages published by the casino, make no assurances.
Our article describing how to validate Lagos gaming licenses, provides step by step instructions. Our online casino reviews such as the review of 1xBet or BC.Game, describe the gaming license and provide a link to the license. Our article on the top Litecoin casinos provides a gaming license and cashier information for each online casino.
Crypto gambling and Nigerian law: common questions
Crypto itself is legal and regulated by the SEC under the Investments and Securities Act 2025. Gambling is legal when the operator holds a licence from the state you play in; Lagos-licensed books such as 1XBET.NG accept crypto inside their licensed product. International crypto casinos hold no Nigerian state licence, and Lagos law makes operating without one an offence for the operator.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2021 directed banks not to transact businesses with Cryptocurrency exchanges. Owning Cryptocurrencies is not unlawful. The CBN in December 2023 issued a directive to banks to transact businesses with Cryptocurrency Exchanges licensed by the SEC.
No. Medium Rara NV, trading as Stake.com, was listed as the 17th illegal gaming company in Lagos State, as at 25th September, 2026. Others named include Rainbet and Bet365.
Owning and selling Cryptocurrencies is a Security activity covered by the SEC. Gambling, including at casinos that take crypto, is licensed by a state’s Gaming Board, for example Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA).
Legal or not, set your limits
Licensed operators must offer tools. Use them.
Lagos State Sports Betting Licensees have a duty to offer Self-Exclusion facility to customers. Other Sports Betting platforms may not offer adequate control measures. Therefore, you should decide before depositing how much you will bet and stick to it.
If you feel that gambling is no longer enjoyable, stop and contact a mental health practitioner.
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.