Gaming Industry Shake-Up: Supreme Court Nullifies National Lottery Act

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the National Lottery Act 2005, which was enacted by the National Assembly. In a landmark unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a seven-member panel of the apex court held that the National Assembly lacked the constitutional authority to legislate on matters relating to lottery and games of chance.¹

The court, led by Justice Mohammed Idris, ruled that the powers to regulate lotteries and games of chance reside exclusively with state Houses of Assembly, not the National Assembly. This decision is a significant victory for states like Lagos, which filed a suit challenging the validity of the National Lottery Act in 2008.²

In the lead judgment, Justice Idris ordered that the National Lottery Act 2005 should no longer be enforced in any state, except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This means that states will now have the authority to regulate lotteries and games of chance within their jurisdictions.³

The implications of this judgment are far-reaching, as it grants states greater autonomy to manage their gaming industries. However, it also raises concerns about the potential for inconsistent regulations and taxation across different states.