The Enugu State Government has shut down the operations of KC Gaming Networks, operators of the Bet9ja brand, following alleged persistent violations of the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Law.
The enforcement action, which led to the sealing of the company’s head office in Enugu on February 10, 2026, was carried out by the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission, acting on a court order issued by the High Court of Enugu State.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prince Arinze Arum, said the shutdown was the culmination of repeated efforts by the state to secure compliance from the operator.
“We are here to enforce compliance with the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Law. Over time, we have had several communications with KC Gaming Networks concerning their infractions and regulatory breaches,” Arum said.
According to him, the company ignored multiple warnings, administrative notices, and entreaties from the commission, particularly on issues relating to licence revalidation, outstanding fees, and other statutory obligations.
“We sent multiple warnings and administrative notifications, but they neglected every single communication and all the entreaties we made, particularly those relating to their financial responsibilities to the state and other regulatory guidelines which they refused to comply with,” he said.
Arum explained that the enforcement action marked a total shutdown of Bet9ja’s operations in the state, noting that the commission would move against all its outlets across Enugu.
“Today, we are here to enforce that compliance. That is why we are shutting down the operations of KC Gaming, the owners of the Bet9ja brand. This action commenced at their Enugu office, and it is a total shutdown. We will also move around the state to shut down all their outlets,” he said.
He stressed that the government was committed to ensuring strict compliance with the law, regardless of the size or influence of any operator.
“We are serious about compliance and about operators playing by the rules. There is no operator or company above the law. If you break the law, you must face the consequences,” Arum stated.
The Executive Secretary added that the commission had exhausted all administrative remedies before resorting to enforcement.
“There has been a series of deliberate neglect of the commission’s instructions and directives, all based on the law and existing regulations. For example, we asked them to revalidate their licence, and they ignored it. We issued demand notices for outstanding fees owed to the state, and those were also neglected,” he said.
Addressing claims of excessive charges, Arum maintained that all fees and levies imposed on gaming operators were lawful and transparent.
“On the issue of fees and levies, no operator is billed arbitrarily. All fees, payments, and taxes are determined through proper assessment, in line with the law and regulations. No genuine operator will claim that the state government imposes arbitrary or unreasonable charges,” he said.
He noted that the government’s objective was to build a well-regulated gaming industry that protects players and the wider public.
“Whether an operator is big or small, any violation of the law or regulations will attract consequences and penalties. We insist on total compliance,” Arum said, adding that compliant operators would continue to enjoy the support and collaboration of the state government.
“All actions taken have been in strict accordance with the law. After multiple warnings and communications, the law provides clear steps, all of which we followed,” he added.
The shutdown followed an ex-parte order granted by the High Court of Enugu State, presided over by Justice H.O. Eya, in Suit No. 6/54/2025 between the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Commission and KC Gaming Networks.
In the order dated February 3, 2026, the court authorised the commission “to seal, distrain upon, lock up and restrict access to the Respondent’s gaming business premises situate within Enugu State for failure to remit duly demanded gross gaming revenue, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed in court.”
The Enugu State Government said it would continue to enforce compliance across the gaming sector, warning that allowing regulatory breaches to go unchecked would send the wrong signal to other operators.
