On January 8, Google conformed to the regulations and imposed a blanket ban on all gambling advertising in the country.
Google has implemented a new prohibition on gambling advertisements in Nigeria. This measure followed the publication of a November verdict by Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
The Nigerian regulatory landscape changed
In November, Nigeria’s Supreme Court delegated gaming regulation to the States of Nigeria, thus repealing the National Lottery Act 2005. This represented a departure from the long-standing national structure.
The majority decision to repeal the National Lottery Act of 2005 brought an end to a decade-long court struggle over the jurisdiction to regulate lottery and gambling activities in the country. The National Lottery Act of 2005 is presently limited to the Federal Capital Territory. In the meantime, states can now create their own guidelines.
Many hailed the Supreme Court’s judgment, which, according to the Lagos State Government, confirmed the “constitutional authority of state governments to regulate lotteries and gaming activities within their jurisdictions.”
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The Lagos State Government asked operators to follow the new framework and stop any unauthorized activity.
Google will no longer allow gambling advertisements in Nigeria
On January 8, Google responded to the changes by implementing a blanket ban on all casino advertising in the nation. This policy update aims to harmonize Google’s rules with Nigeria’s new regulatory framework.
As a result, any promotion of gambling-related products in Nigeria is now prohibited.
Google went on to say that companies on its platform should no longer market gambling to Nigerian players, which includes providing vouchers and bonus codes as well as distributing informative resources like odds and betting advice.
In addition to marketing materials, Google has blocked gambling-related instructional materials, such as books and e-books about the sector.
The policy change affects all of Google’s advertising offerings, including Google Search, YouTube Ads, and Display Network.
Nigeria considered a ban on betting
The repeal of the National Lottery Act 2005 is expected to drastically alter the face of the Nigerian gaming industry, creating a more complex regulatory landscape.
Meanwhile, a year ago, municipal politicians considered regulation measures that may have resulted in a ban on sports betting. Data supplied by the country’s National Lottery Trust Fund revealed a concerning statistic: more than 65 million Nigerians bet approximately $15 every day on sports. This suggested that approximately $1 billion is wagered every day.
The extremely high participation in sports betting predicted significant problem gambling rates, as well as widespread underage gambling.
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