Nigeria Launches SafePlay to Combat Gambling Addiction

The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) in Nigeria has launched the SafePlay platform, a single portal where players can voluntarily opt out of all licensed gaming platforms in Lagos State for periods ranging from three months to five years. In addition, the service will provide users with access to professional third-party support services and advice during periods of self-exclusion or vulnerability.

Previously, measures for self-exclusion of players existed, but they were applied individually by each operator, meaning that a player could block himself from one platform, but at the moment of vulnerability go to place a bet on another platform to which he has access. To prevent this from happening again, the integration of SafePlay has become a mandatory requirement for all licensed operators in Lagos State, if the measure is not followed, the operator will lose its license.

The inclusion of such a platform in the regulatory ecosystem strengthens the image of the jurisdiction as a responsible market, which is important for attracting legal operators and investors. The initiative is not a way to make profit but a way to help people, according to Fasan Oluyemisi, former chief administrative officer of the National Lotteries Regulatory Commission.