Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruling sparks crackdown on sports betting in Kano

The Kano Islamic Police in northern Nigeria have ramped up their efforts to shut down sports betting establishments following a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The court invalidated a 2005 federal law legalizing sports betting, granting individual states the authority to regulate gambling according to their own laws. This decision has significant implications for Kano, a state governed by Sharia law, which prohibits gambling.

Officials from the Kano Islamic Police announced that enforcement efforts would resume with "renewed determination" against sports betting shops, which they deem illegal under local religious laws. Kano is one of twelve northern Nigerian states where Sharia law operates alongside common law, and the ruling reinforces states' exclusive jurisdiction over gambling regulations.

The crackdown comes as sports betting establishments have grown in number across the region, drawing large crowds eager to watch live sports, including international football matches and horse races. An estimated 200 betting shops operate in Kano, many offering on-site screens for broadcasting these events.

Previously, the National Lottery Commission had urged the Kano Islamic Police to adhere to the now-invalidated 2005 federal law and halt closures of betting shops. However, with the Supreme Court’s decision now in place, the Islamic Police, or Hisbah, are stepping up enforcement, citing concerns over gambling addiction and its social impact on the community.