Nigerian operator Bet9ja has denied any wrongdoing in light of a court order to tape shut its offices in the city of Enugu.
Earlier this February, the Gaming and Lottery Commission of Enugu, filed an ex-parte motion with the Enugu High Court to intervene and grant the regulator the permission to close down all premises in the city related to Bet9ja and owner KC Gaming, citing overdue tax payments and regulatory notice avoidance.
Hon. Justice H.O. Eya subsequently granted the order, leading to the regulator moving forward with the closures of all offices and betting shops owned and managed by the operator.
Prince Arinze Arum, Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Gaming and Lottery Commission, publicly scrutinised Bet9ja for the alleged wrongdoings.
He said: “We have had several communications with KC Gaming concerning their infractions and regulatory breaches, including financial responsibilities to the state, but they neglected every communication…we made.
“We want total compliance. If you comply with the gaming laws, the commission and the state government will collaborate and support you. But we cannot allow anyone to keep flouting the law because it sends the wrong signal to other operators.
“We are serious about compliance and playing by the rules. There is no company that is above the law.”
Bet9ja says fight isn’t over yet
However, in a response for SBC News, Bet9ja and KC Gaming management has remained adamant that it has always acted within its rights granted to it by the Enugu gambling framework.
A spokesperson for Bet9ja called the local government’s decision “draconian”, adding: “As a responsible organisation who drives employment in Enugu state and Nigeria as a whole, KC Gaming has always operated with integrity, transparency and obeyed all fiduciary duties required of it, not just as a market leader, but as a beacon of the best practice it champions both in its industry and the Nigerian economy at large.”
Commenting on the matter was also Ayo Ojuroye, CEO and Managing Director of KC Gaming, who remained firm in his position that the company has been “a model corporate entity” since it first launched in Enugu over 10 years ago.
Contrary to the statements made by Arum, Ojuroye said that KC Gaming and Bet9ja have maintained continuous communication with the local government, the Gambling Commission, and the Internal Revenue Service, while also hinting at a future appeal of the High Court ruling.
“We wish to assure our agents, partners, and the public that we will continue to follow due process to ensure that these closures are reversed and that justice prevails,” Ojuroye concluded.
Bet9ja is one of the biggest gambling operators in Nigeria. Estimates put the total value of the market at around US$3.6bn generated annually, driven by an increase in mobile penetration rates and iGaming engagement.
There are ongoing attempts by legislators on the federal level to update the Nigeria Gambling Bill, which currently governs gambling on a state-by-state basis, split among the country’s 36 states. Reform proponents want a nationalised gambling bill instead.
It will be interesting to see how the developments in Enugu and across the wider Nigerian market will evolve throughout this year, and what impact this will have on operators like Bet9ja and KC Gaming.