Betting in Abuja, how to check if a site is approved in the FCT

Since the Supreme Court ruling of November 2024, betting is licensed state by state, and the Federal Capital Territory has its own regulator: the FCT Lottery Regulatory Office. If you live in Abuja, its list is the one to check, not the Lagos register.

1. Open the FCT approved operators list

The list is on the FCT Lottery Regulatory Office website. It's split into sections: lottery, sports betting, casino, interactive or mobile gaming, and consumer sales promotions. Above each list the office states that any operator not listed is classified as an illegal operator.

2. Search for the company, not just the brand

Each entry gives the company and the brand. The company can differ from what you'd expect. SportyBet, for example, appears as Sporty Internet Limited on the FCT list, while the Lagos register lists Marawin Limited. Use your browser's "Find on page" and search for both.

3. Check the right category

Sports betting and casino are separate sections. A brand can be approved for one and not the other. On the FCT list, Bangbet appears in the casino section only.

4. Check the date and status

Each entry shows a validity date and a status such as "Running". The page doesn't say when it was last updated, so if a date looks close, check again later.

What the list showed on 27 October 2026

Brand	Company on the FCT list	Sports betting	Casino
Bet9ja	KC Gaming	To 12 September 2029	To 11 September 2029
BetKing	SV Gaming Limited	To 31 July 2028	To 1 April 2029
SportyBet	Sporty Internet Limited	To 30 July 2028	To 30 June 2028
Bangbet	Infinity Mobile Gaming & Entertainment Limited	Not listed	To 31 August 2029

We didn't find Goka, 1xBet or Betano on the FCT list. Goka's site lists a licence from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, whose remit since the ruling is generally understood to cover the FCT. We haven't confirmed how the FCT office treats that licence, so check with the office if it matters to you.

A Lagos licence doesn't cover Abuja

Each state and the FCT regulates separately. A site can be licensed in Lagos and not approved in the FCT, or the other way round. Our page on licensed betting sites in Nigeria explains how licensing works across the country and shows the Lagos status of every site we profile.