Agency to tackle gambling addiction

August 12, 2025 by Our Reporter

The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has launched SafePlay, a central self-exclusion tool that replaces fragmented systems once limited to individual operators, in lkeja.

The platform offers a unified response to gambling problems by standardising how self-exclusion is enforced across the state.

Before now, punters who wished to self-exclude had to arrange with individual operators. This meant that a gambler could deactivate their account with one betting platform and remain active on others, undermining self-exclusion. With SafePlay, the agency has closed this loophole.

 A single enrolment bars the user from licensed platforms for a period, with more restrictions on promotional content and marketing outreach.

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At the event on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer, LSLGA, Mr. Bashir Are, said: “This is not just a regulatory requirement. It is a human-centered solution that puts the well-being of the punter first.

“We are proud to introduce this tool as part of our broader commitment to building a responsible, ethical, and inclusive gaming ecosystem.”

 He said SafePlay allows for exclusion periods ranging from three months to five years. Once a punter initiates the process—either through a licensed operator or directly on the SafePlay portal— operators are required to enforce the decision.

This approach signals a more assertive regulatory posture from the LSLGA, one that prioritises public interest while modernising oversight. By embedding SafePlay as a mandatory feature for all licensed operators, the agency is strengthening its supervisory capacity and tightening compliance measures around player protection.