Nigeria has no federal licence for iGaming suppliers. Since the Supreme Court's November 2024 judgment, the states regulate gaming. A supplier must check every state where its operator customers hold a licence. Lagos has a published B2B licence process. Enugu has only proposed one. We found no supplier fee that we could verify from an official source.
Quick answer: how do you get a supplier licence in Nigeria?
First, list the states where your customers are licensed. Then apply to each state's regulator under its own rules. In Lagos, you apply to the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) for a business-to-business (B2B) licence. Other states may use different categories and different documents, or have no supplier category yet. A Lagos approval does not carry over to them.
Why the rules are set by each state
In Attorney-General of Lagos State & Ors v Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors, the Supreme Court held that the National Lottery Act 2005 does not apply across the states. Lotteries and games of chance fall under state law, except in the Federal Capital Territory. A law-firm guide to B2B licensing in Lagos describes the ruling. So a federal licence from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission covers only Abuja, as we explained in our guide to who regulates betting in Nigeria.
What is FSGRN, and what does its certificate cover?
The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN) brings the state regulators together. On 7 May 2025, its member states signed a Subnational Reciprocity Licensing Framework in Lagos. The announcement at the time says an operator can get one Universal Reciprocity Certificate (URC) for four categories across member states: online sports betting, online casino, public online lottery and promotional competitions. It also waived 2025 licence fees for operators moving over from National Lottery Regulatory Commission licences. Renewal fees were due from 1 January 2026.
Two limits matter for suppliers:
- The URC is described for operator categories. None of our sources says it also covers B2B suppliers. Treat supplier approval as a separate question for each state.
- The URC works only in member states. One licensing consultancy estimated about 22 to 25 of Nigeria's 36 states by mid-2026. That is an estimate, not an official count.
Operator licence versus supplier licence
| Operator licence | Supplier (B2B) licence | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds it | The brand that takes bets from players. | A company that supplies services to licensed operators. |
| Wider coverage | URC through FSGRN for the four categories above. | Not established. Check each state. |
| Published process | FSGRN and state regulators. | Lagos B2B licence (LSLGA). |
| Risk if missing | Operating without authorisation. | The operator's own licence can be at risk, because its suppliers are part of its licence file. |
Lagos: what the B2B licence covers
The law-firm guide summarises the LSLGA's own requirements. A B2B licence is for companies that supply gaming services to operators licensed by the LSLGA or FSGRN. It is not for companies that take bets from players. The listed activities include:
- making, distributing, supplying, selling or leasing gaming devices;
- risk management, events, content or odds, and fraud management for a licensable game;
- holding or managing player funds, and customer checks or identity verification;
- co-location and managed IT services, including cloud computing, where these are not critical gaming supply; and
- backup and disaster recovery services.
So infrastructure companies, not only game developers, can fall inside the licence. Our hosting guide covers that side.
What documents does Lagos ask for?
According to the same guide, an application includes:
- a letter naming the licence category and the services;
- proof of incorporation and details of directors and shareholders. Foreign companies give the equivalent documents from their home country;
- a business plan covering structure, operations, the operators to be served and the compliance framework;
- a description of the product or platform;
- technical information: a system diagram, whether the platform is self-hosted or cloud-based (with hosting contacts if cloud), hardware and software details, and contracts and service level agreements with third-party providers;
- backup, disaster recovery and business continuity policies, plus data protection papers that fit the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023; and
- a product or platform certificate from a certified laboratory.
The authority may ask for clarifications, interviews, demonstrations or inspections. It issues the licence once the conditions are met and the fee is paid.
What about technical certification?
An LSLGA notice dated 20 July 2026 says the authority is updating its technical framework. It names a testing laboratory that joined its ecosystem in July 2026. The notice sets out a six-month transition:
- Months 1 to 2: a census of operators, B2B providers and payment service providers.
- Months 3 to 5: formal technical audit of game source code, random number generators, online platforms and payment systems.
- Month 6: a final certificate of homologation. Uncertified systems are to be disconnected.
It also says older certificates from bodies the state has not authorised must be brought into line. The notice does not give a start date, and it says the census portal had not yet opened. Its wording is unusual for a regulator, and it does not say who may test or how. Confirm the details with the authority. The full text is on the LSLGA website.
What does it cost?
We could not verify current B2B licence fees from an official LSLGA fee schedule, so we publish no figures. The law-firm guide says there is a non-refundable application fee. It adds that licence fees differ between B2B applicants, and that software and gaming-service providers pay the most. Figures online do not agree, and some belong to operator categories, not suppliers. Ask the authority for its current fee schedule in writing. If you use an adviser, budget for their fees too.
Enugu: a proposal, not yet a licence
On 8 October 2026, the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Commission proposed a B2B framework at its Gaming Stakeholders Forum. It would cover software developers, technology providers, platform operators and equipment suppliers, and it builds on the Enugu State Gaming Laws 2025. The Commission has not published detailed requirements, as we reported in our Enugu analysis. We cannot describe an Enugu process or fees. Treat Enugu as a sign of direction, not a checklist.
Foreign B2B providers
The Lagos guide says a foreign company can use equivalent incorporation documents from its home country. It also advises weighing a Nigerian subsidiary against applying as the foreign entity, because the regulator wants clear facts on where the company is based and operates. Other states may differ. Foreign providers should also plan for the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, including safeguards when personal data leaves Nigeria.
What to prepare for 2027
This is our advice, not a regulator's instruction. The LSLGA roadmap, the FSGRN renewals and the Enugu proposal all point the same way: suppliers will be asked for proof earlier. Before 2027 starts:
- List every Nigerian state where your operator customers hold a licence, and find the supplier rule for each.
- Gather the technical papers Lagos asks for: system diagram, hosting details, backup and recovery plans, and contracts with third parties.
- Ask the LSLGA in writing which laboratory certificates it accepts, and when its census portal opens.
- Request the current fee schedule, and keep the reply.
- Watch the Enugu Commission for its published requirements.
Compliance duties and risks
- State differences: rules, categories and timelines vary. Approval in one state does not apply in another.
- Operator exposure: an operator that uses an unlicensed or uncertified supplier may put its own licence at risk. That is why operators ask suppliers for proof.
- Ongoing duties: renewals, notice of material changes, record keeping, data protection, anti-money-laundering controls, and tools that help operators enforce age limits and self-exclusion.
- Legal position: the law is changing. Some points above rest on law-firm summaries, not on the statutes. Take advice from a Nigerian gaming lawyer before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a federal iGaming supplier licence in Nigeria?
We found none. After the Supreme Court's 2024 judgment, the states regulate gaming. The federal commission's licence covers only the Federal Capital Territory.
Does an FSGRN Universal Reciprocity Certificate cover suppliers?
The sources we found describe it for four operator categories: sports betting, online casino, public online lottery and promotional competitions. Whether it reaches suppliers is not established. Ask the state regulator.
How much is a supplier licence in Lagos?
We could not verify current figures from an official schedule. Ask the LSLGA for its fee schedule in writing.
Does Enugu license B2B suppliers?
Enugu proposed a B2B framework in October 2026. Detailed requirements had not been published when we checked.
Do foreign suppliers need a Nigerian company?
Lagos guidance indicates that foreign incorporation documents can be used, but a local presence may be wise. Confirm with the regulator.
Information, not legal advice. Take advice from a Nigerian gaming lawyer. 18+ only. Gamble responsibly.
