Day Two of the Enugu Gaming Conference 2025 closed with a unified message asserting that Nigeria’s gaming future depends on implementation, trust, and indigenous innovation.
Themed “Diversification — Exploring New Opportunities, Products, and Partnerships,” experts challenged the sector to evolve from regulatory confusion to accountability, from imported systems to homegrown solutions.
Speaking on the conference’s impact, Prince Arinze Arum, executive secretary/CEO, Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission, who hosted the Conference, said, “Beyond gaming as a specific industry, we’re looking at innovation in game development. That’s where there’s a handshake between gaming and tech,” he said.
“When you have a lot of young people come together with the enablement provided by the government, they can innovate… and create games that are relatable. We’re structuring the industry. We’re simplifying licensing regimes and tax frameworks. Enugu is secure, peaceful, business-friendly, and open for business.”
Founder of iGaming WriteNow, Dr Kolade Abisoye’s keynote, “Shaping Nigeria’s Gaming Future,” expatiated that dashboards, not just policies, are the next frontier.
“Over 60 million Nigerians engage in gaming yearly with a revenue of about ₦730 million, but a lot of money has been lost due to unresolved disputes and unregulated platforms, and this is a national concern that requires budget actions,” he stated.
He called for real-time tracking tools for tax compliance and licensing, criticising vague regulations that only serve to confuse operators and defraud players.
“The 2024 Supreme Court ruling gave states autonomy over gaming. Yet here we are, debating the central gaming bill like it’s post-#EndSARS déjà vu — replacing SARS with SWAT. That’s what the FSGrA feels the federal bill is trying to do.”
Legal Panel: States Must Act as a Unified Bloc
A panel led by Kenneth Nwankwo, head of Operations, Premier Lotto (Baba Ijebu) examined the Supreme Court ruling’s implications. With 37 regulators now across Nigeria, coordination is highly necessary.
“The Supreme Court ruled that anything not in the Exclusive or Concurrent List is residual, and therefore under state control. Gaming is residual.”
The Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGrA) is working toward a harmonised framework. But there are still gaps. “Yes, the judgment clarified the law, but implementation is murky. A small operator advertising online might be seen as operating in a state where they have no licence.”
Operator’s Perspective: Transparency Must Work Both Ways
Edward Oluigbo, CEO of Superior Games called for data-backed accountability: “Both hands must wash each other. One hand can’t wash itself. Regulators and operators must build mutual trust.”
He encouraged regulators to demand accountability and publish data that shows how revenues from licensing and taxation are being used to support public interest causes, especially responsible gaming awareness and enforcement.
“Gaming should give back to its source. Let’s fund responsible gaming departments and partner with established bodies.”
Rangers Dream Big Raffle: Launching Sport-Inclusive Innovation
The Rangers Dream Big Raffle was officially unveiled, tied to Rangers International Football Club. The raffle offers fans and investors an opportunity to participate in community-driven sports funding.
“This is a way to fund football, reward passionate fans, and raise investment for community infrastructure,” where Ejiofor Agada, iGaming industry consultant and advisor to the Enugu State Gaming Commission, said.
The digital raffle will be regulated, transparent, and offer life-changing prizes, including cash, cars, scholarships, merchandise and lots more, while contributing to sports development in Enugu and beyond.
Civil Society: Youth, Mental Health, and Gambling Debt
Led by Olabimpe Akingba, this session explored the link between gaming, mental health, and youth protection.
“99.8% of players in our database have debt profiles. They are borrowing to gamble. This is not sustainable.”
A regulator from Imo State added: “We arrested an agent for allowing an underage player to bet. Many agents don’t even know the rules. We’re working with radio and local influencers to raise awareness.”
The challenges of poor public education, aggressive advertising, and unregulated digital spaces are choking but solutions to end these are scaling up. “We have student mental health clubs in five universities, and over 130,000 people in our awareness network.”
Closing Plenary: Vision 2030 – Roadmap for Nigeria’s Gaming Sector
Olaitan Samuel delivered the final plenary, outlining a strategic future for Nigeria’s gaming industry. “Gaming is no longer what people used to see as a pastime. I see gaming as becoming a lifestyle. It has become an economy.”
He projected that by 2030, the industry could add over ₦1 trillion to GDP, create 5 million jobs, and run on a licensing system globally respected across borders.
He further emphasised technology as the engine of change: “Blockchain will make payments secure and transparent. AI will personalise player experiences and ensure responsible gaming.”
On innovation drivers, he stressed the power of data: “Data analytics will help operators and regulators make smarter decisions… when you know the numbers of players you have, you can better monitor activity and risk.”
“The only way we can get more investors and operators into the system is to ensure that we harmonise the policy. If this is not unified, I don’t think any investor who knows what he’s doing will come into the country,” he advocated harmonised regulation.
“Regulators must simplify and unify. Operators must innovate ethically. Investors should bet on Africa. Together, we must build a scalable, safe, and sovereign gaming ecosystem.”
Gala/Awards Night: Honouring Visionaries and Industry Leaders
The conference concluded with a Gala Night and Awards Ceremony, a fitting close to two days of strategy, innovation, and sector-wide reflection. Activities included cultural showcases, entertainment, dinner, and networking, while the award categories were Lifetime Achievement in Gaming Awards, given in three categories, Gaming Media Platform of the Year, Gaming Operator of the Year, Emerging Gaming Brand of the Year, and Responsible Gaming Advocate of the Year.
Prince Arum, in closing Summarise that: “When someone places a ₦100 bet, it may look small. But it’s trust, they trust the platform, they trust the process. We must earn that trust every single day.”
The Enugu Gaming Conference 2025 ended with applause, awards and most importantly, clarity. The real work begins now; local content development, responsible gaming, smarter governance, and collective regulation.
Nigeria’s gaming sector may still be fragmented, but if the energy from Enugu is anything to go by, the pieces are slowly coming together.
“Let’s not raise our voices to shape our industry. Let’s collaborate and act. Our players deserve better, and our nation demands it.”
