Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for the adoption of advanced technology and the decentralisation of regulatory authority as key strategies to drive the growth and transformation of Nigeria’s gaming industry.
Governor Mbah stated this during the opening ceremony of the second edition of the Enugu Gaming Conference 2025, held on Wednesday at the International Conference Centre, Enugu. The event was organised by the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission under the theme: “From Unification to Diversification: Shaping Nigeria’s Gaming Future.”
Represented by the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Urama, the Governor stressed the industry’s untapped potential to serve as a major driver of job creation and economic development in Nigeria.
He commended the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission for leading the conversation on modernising regulatory frameworks and pledged his administration’s continued commitment to repositioning the gaming sector through technology, innovation, and responsive policies.
“Over the past year, the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission has taken giant strides in regulatory transformation, and I am proud to share that we have invested in cutting-edge digital infrastructure aimed at raising the bar for regulatory excellence,” Mbah said.
He highlighted the state’s recent technological leap with the introduction of a fully Automated License Verification and Operator Registration Portal, a secure intelligence platform designed to track, license, and validate operators in real time.
“At the heart of this transformation is the Automated License Verification and Operator Registration Portal, a secure intelligence system that enables real-time tracking, licensing, and validation of gaming operators across the state. This innovation has drastically reduced manual interference, minimised the risk of fraud, and ensured compliance with our gaming laws,” he added.
Governor Mbah also revealed plans to roll out more advanced technologies and public sensitisation campaigns to promote responsible gaming, shield vulnerable populations, and curb underage gambling in the state.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission, Prince Arinze Arum, noted that the Nigerian gaming industry has entered a pivotal era, where discussions must extend beyond revenue and enforcement to include jurisdiction, innovation, data governance, and structural reform.
“We must be honest with ourselves: the Nigerian gaming industry is at a critical juncture. The conversations are no longer just about enforcement or revenue generation. They are now about jurisdiction, innovation, technology, cross-border collaborations, and most importantly, structure,” he said.
Arum emphasised the need to decentralise regulation, creating frameworks that reflect local realities while remaining aligned with national priorities.
“Unification gave us a framework. Diversification now demands that we tailor that framework to local realities, economic priorities, and constitutional responsibilities,” he stated.
Also speaking at the event, the National Commissioner of the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, represented by Alexander Owen, stressed the critical role of privacy, data security, and compliance in the digital gaming space.
He advocated for stronger age verification systems to safeguard minors and cautioned gaming platforms against indiscriminate data collection.
“Personal data collection must be consensual and limited to what is necessary for platform operations,” he warned.
The two-day Enugu Gaming Conference marks a significant step in the state’s vision to build a transparent, innovative, and inclusive gaming ecosystem, while ensuring regulatory excellence and consumer protection remain top priorities.
