How to check if a betting site is licensed in Lagos

If you bet in Lagos, the operator needs a licence from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA). A logo in the site footer isn't proof. The LSLGA keeps a public register, and checking it takes about two minutes.

1. Find the company name behind the site

Brands and companies often have different names. Scroll to the bottom of the betting site or open its "About us" page and look for the company, usually ending in "Limited". For example, Bet9ja is run by KC Gaming Networks Limited.

2. Open the LSLGA register

The register is at lslga.org. On a phone, use your browser's "Find on page" option and search for the brand name and the company name. The register shows:

• the company (institution) name
• the trade name, which is the brand you know
• the licence category, such as online sports betting or online casino
• the licence start and end dates

3. Check the end date

The LSLGA says that if the end date has passed, the operator isn't currently authorised for that service until the licence is renewed. Licences are usually renewed yearly, so a recently expired date can mean a renewal is on the way. Check again a few days later before you deposit.

The register has a few typing errors in its dates, so read them carefully.

4. Check the category matches what you're doing

A sports betting licence and a casino licence are separate categories. If you play casino games, look for a category that includes online casino.

5. Check the illegal operators list

The LSLGA also publishes lists of illegal and unlicensed operators, linked from its licence-checking page. If the site you use appears there, don't deposit.

What a national or other-state licence means

The LSLGA says a national licence on its own isn't enough to operate in Lagos. Since the Supreme Court judgment of November 2024, betting is regulated state by state, so an operator can be licensed in one state and not another. If you're outside Lagos, check with your own state's gaming regulator.

If the site isn't on the register

Don't deposit. If you already have money in an account, withdraw what you can and keep records. The LSLGA asks people to report unlicensed operators through its contact page.

For how licensing works across Nigeria, and the status of every site we profile, see licensed betting sites in Nigeria. We check the register for every operator we profile. You'll find the result, with the date we checked, on each operator profile.