Minister Commits to Reviewing Gaming Tech Rules
Nigeria’s Innovation Minister has made a key commitment. The Ministry will review National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) registration requirements. This review focuses specifically on digital and software-delivered services.
The government wants to examine technology-transfer arrangements within the gaming sector. According to a post-event article from the Enugu State Gaming Commission, the review goes further. The Ministry will also examine how technology-transfer agreements are classified and valued. Both the Commission and industry representatives will participate in this process.
Minister Pledges Return for EGC2027
The Commission also shared details from the EGC2026 communiqué. Minister Udeh committed to returning for the Enugu Gaming Conference 2027 (EGC2027). At that event, he plans to report publicly on the progress made this year.
These commitments followed the Enugu Gaming Conference 2026. The event took place July 29–30 at the International Conference Centre in Enugu. Organisers built the conference around a clear theme. It was titled “Code, Capital and Compliance: Unlocking Nigeria’s iGaming Tech Opportunity.”
According to the Commission, EGC2026 aimed to shift the gaming conversation. It moved discussions beyond betting and lottery operations. Instead, it focused on technology, investment, regulation, and indigenous development.
Conference Calls for Stronger Regulation
The Commission summed up the conference’s core message clearly. “Technology without capital does not scale. Capital without regulatory certainty does not stay,” it said.
The communiqué made several specific calls to action. First, it urged states without dedicated gaming legislation to enact proper laws. Second, it called for stronger coordination between states.
This includes better data-sharing between gaming regulators nationwide. Additionally, the communiqué pushed for risk-based licensing of emerging gaming technologies. It also called for a review of how regulators treat digitally delivered gaming services.
The Commission clarified an important distinction. “Regulatory certainty is not the same thing as regulatory leniency,” it said. “Serious investors do not necessarily expect fewer rules.”
Indigenous Technology Named a Strategic Priority
The conference identified indigenous Nigerian gaming technology as a key priority. Payments infrastructure also ranked highly on this list. Furthermore, organisers called for stronger links between research and commercialisation efforts.
The Commission explained the reasoning behind this focus. It said the goal isn’t to reject international technology or investment. Instead, Nigeria wants a bigger role in the industry.
The country should not simply consume gaming technology built elsewhere. Rather, Nigeria should design, finance, build, own, and export its own technology too.
Investment Climate and Unlicensed Platforms in Focus
EGC2026 also examined Nigeria’s investment and taxation environment closely. Discussions covered the effective tax burden on operators. They also addressed gaming-related taxes, regulatory complexity, and customer acquisition costs. Compliance overhead was another key topic during these sessions.
The conference also tackled unlicensed and offshore gaming platforms directly. The Commission identified these platforms as a shared threat. They threaten consumers, legitimate operators, and government revenue alike.
As a result, the communiqué called for stronger responsible-gaming monitoring. This monitoring should extend beyond online platforms to agents and land-based outlets. It should also include training agents to recognise at-risk customers.
EGC2027 Set to Measure Progress
Looking ahead, the Commission outlined clear expectations for next year. EGC2027 should function as an accountability conference. Organisers plan to assess progress against this year’s commitments.
This includes tracking regulatory changes, indigenous technology development, and investment growth. Job creation and responsible gaming efforts will also factor into next year’s review.
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