Makinde tells Oyo gaming operators to obey licence and tax rules
- Governor Seyi Makinde says gaming operators in Oyo must keep valid licences and pay their taxes and levies.
- He spoke at the seventh stakeholders' forum of the Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board in Ibadan.
- The governor says regulation must be fair but must also protect players, especially minors.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has warned gaming and lottery operators in the state against illegal practices, saying non-compliance costs the government revenue and hurts honest businesses.
Makinde spoke on Thursday at the seventh Annual Stakeholders' Interactive Forum of the Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, held at the Jogor Centre in Ibadan. He was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde.
The governor said operators must keep valid licences, pay their taxes and levies, keep accurate records and meet all regulatory requirements. He said compliance should be part of how they run their business, not just a box to tick.
He warned that illegal operations and non-compliance weaken oversight, encourage unfair competition and deny the state money it needs for development.
Why it matters to ordinary residents
Gaming and lottery businesses bring in revenue for Oyo State. When operators skip licences or taxes, that money is lost, and the governor said accurate reporting and better compliance would help close those leakages.
Makinde also raised concerns about players. He called for protection of vulnerable people and measures to stop underage participation in gaming.
With more betting now done on phones and online platforms, he said stronger safeguards are needed against cybersecurity threats, consumer exploitation and weak monitoring of transactions.
At the same time, the governor said regulation should not choke legitimate businesses. According to him, the aim is orderly growth and accountability, not obstacles for operators who follow the law.
"Economic growth must be encouraged, businesses must be allowed to thrive within the law, and the interests of the public must remain protected," Makinde said.
He urged the gaming board to build its capacity, engage more with stakeholders and use modern technology to monitor the industry and enforce the rules.
The board's Director-General, Olajide Boladuro, said the forum showed stakeholders' commitment to a responsible and transparent industry. He said the sector can create jobs and investment, but only if compliance and public protection come first.
The event also featured panel sessions on whether the industry is over-regulated, on corporate social responsibility in gaming, and on the state of online gaming (iGaming) regulation in Nigeria.
Among those at the forum were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole, and the Senior Special Assistant on ICT and E-Governance, Bayo Akande, along with government officials, operators and representatives of gaming regulators.
What happens next
The governor asked the gaming board to tighten monitoring and enforcement, and to act against illegal operators. Operators are expected to keep their licences and tax payments up to date.
