State gaming regulators object to new federal rules on promotional lotteries

The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN) has come out against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's Sales Promotion Regulations, 2026. Its statement appeared in Premium Times on 21 October.

What the FSGRN is objecting to

Sales promotions include the prize draws and "buy and win" offers brands run to sell products. The FSGRN's objection is to the parts of the new regulations that give the FCCPC, a federal agency, power to regulate, license, approve or supervise lotteries, promotional lotteries and games of chance.

Its argument rests on two points:

• The constitution. Section 4(7) of the 1999 Constitution gives State Houses of Assembly power over residual matters. The FSGRN says lotteries, betting and gaming are residual matters, apart from in the FCT.
• The Supreme Court. In its judgment of 22 November 2024 (Attorney-General of Lagos State and others v Attorney-General of the Federation and others), the court treated lotteries and games of chance as matters for the states. The FSGRN says that judgment also restrains federal agencies from exercising those powers within the states.

On prize draws in particular, the statement says: "A lottery does not cease to be a lottery merely because it is described as a sales promotion."

The FSGRN wants the regulations reviewed and amended to match the judgment.

What happens next

This is the FSGRN's side of the argument. The FCCPC's response wasn't part of the statement, and nothing has changed for players yet. We'll update this story if the regulations are revised or either side takes further action.

For now, if a brand promotion asks you to pay to enter a draw, treat it like any other bet: read the terms first, including who can enter, when the draw closes and how prizes are paid.