National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has issued a strong warning to lottery operators failing to comply with regulatory requirements, particularly concerning percentage remittances to the government.

The Director-General of NLRC, Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, said this during a meeting and management retreat organised by the commission in Lagos on Wednesday.

He stressed the importance of adherence to regulations and stated that penalties would be imposed on non-compliant operators per the Gaming Terms and Conditions.

Gbajabiamila outlined payment guidelines, urging operators to use the monthly reporting template provided by the commission and submit payment receipts within 24 hours.

The director-general also emphasised the need for cybersecurity compliance to uphold the gaming industry?s integrity.

?Responsible gaming should be a key focus, I am mandating operators to form a committee to establish a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for counseling services,? he said.

He also said that the Department of State Security Services (DSS) would conduct background checks on shareholders and key management staff of lottery operators.

Gbajabiamila noted that the revised sports betting permit fee, effective since July 15, is now set at N75 million, while the casino permit fee remains at N100 million.

He reaffirmed the commission?s commitment to enforcing compliance with the National Lottery Act 2005, as amended.

Mr Tosin Adeyanju, Chief Executive Officer, National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), clarified the roles and responsibilities of both the commission and the Trust Fund.

He emphasised that the commission regulates the lottery industry, while the Trust Fund receives lottery remittances for good causes. (NAN)