The notice says Stake ignored ten compliance notices sent over the past two years, and that its current unlicensed status likely comes from failing to move over to Nigeria’s new state-by-state licensing system, introduced after the Supreme Court ruled in November 2024 that gambling regulation falls under individual states rather than the federal government. Stake had previously held a valid license in Oyo State, but it was removed after the operator failed to renew it despite the board’s request.
Regulators said enforcement won’t stop at Stake itself, and could extend to advertising platforms, influencers, and other parties helping the operator run unlawfully in the country. One example already drawing attention is Stake’s shirt sponsorship deal with Nigerian football club Enyimba International, signed in 2023, which authorities say could count as promoting an unlicensed operator.
A spokesperson for the Federal Stakeholders Group on Responsible Gaming (FSGRN) stated:
“Where an unlicensed gaming operator’s brand is prominently displayed on the jersey of a Nigerian football club, such exposure may constitute advertising or promotion of the operator and may therefore raise concerns regarding the facilitation of its unlicensed gaming activities.”
The move adds Nigeria to a growing list of countries targeting Stake, and comes as a broader report from Gaming Compliance International (GCI) found that unlicensed platforms made up more than half of Nigeria’s online gambling activity in 2025, generating more revenue than the country’s licensed operators.
