FCT Establishes Gaming Regulator, Mandates Operator Compliance Amidst Evolving Legal Landscape
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has officially launched its own gaming regulatory body, the Federal Capital Territory Lottery Regulatory Office (FCT-LRO), marking a significant development for operators within the nation’s capital. This move, detailed in a public notice issued on November 9, 2026, asserts the FCT’s independent authority over all gaming activities, stemming from a pivotal Supreme Court judgment.
The establishment of the FCT-LRO follows the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of Attorney-General of Lagos State & 21 Others v. Attorney-General of the Federation & 15 Others. The FCT administration cites Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which confers a distinct constitutional status upon the FCT, empowering the National Assembly to exercise powers typically vested in a State House of Assembly. Consequently, all gaming operators conducting business within the FCT are now mandated to comply with FCT licensing requirements and engage directly with the FCT-LRO.
Crucially, the FCT-LRO clarified the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding online gaming. The office stated that the judgment did not grant any single state exclusive control over the online gaming market. Operators retain the freedom to select their licensing regulator based on their specific business models, free from any coercion or intimidation by state-level regulators. However, the FCT-LRO stressed that operating online does not exempt any entity from applicable licensing obligations.
Operators previously licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and active within the FCT are required to regularise their status with the FCT-LRO. Valid, unexpired NLRC licences will be recognised and converted to FCT-LRO licences for the remainder of their original validity period. Affected operators have been given a strict 7-day ultimatum from the date of the notice to present their existing licences for verification and complete the regularisation process.
In a move to enhance transparency and public trust, the FCT-LRO has also published lists of currently recognised operators across various gaming categories, including casino, sports betting, lotto, and interactive gaming. The public is strongly advised to verify the credentials of operators before engaging their services. This proactive regulatory step underscores the FCT’s commitment to a structured and compliant gaming environment.
