ABUJA — The House of Representatives has mandated the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to ensure that all gaming operators in Nigeria integrate the National Identity Numbers (NIN) of customers into their database.
The green chamber passed the resolution during the plenary session on Thursday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ibrahim Isiaka, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Ogun state.
Presenting the motion, Isiaka said integrating NIN as a requirement for betting will protect the customers and operators in the sector.
“The global gaming market is undoubtedly a huge one estimated to generate between $400 to $500 billion yearly and with the consistency of the current trends, by 2022, it is set to be worth around $565 billion with increasing amounts of revenues coming from online gaming in its many forms,” he said.
“When such large amounts of money are exchanged and transacted quickly through relatively anonymous interactions, there is a significant risk that criminals will be tempted to use the situation for money laundering.
“With age-restricted businesses like casinos and online gaming platforms, the critical barrier to entry for customers is age and identity verification, therefore there is an increased need for such verifications in virtual situations in order to secure both the customers and the operators.
“One of the basic purposes of the National Identity Number (NIN) is for identification, as it not only serves to identify the individual holder but also curbs duplication of identities.
“It is imperative for regulators to place a premium on data security of gamers and gaming operators and one readily available way to achieve this is to integrate the National identity Numbers (NIN) into the data collection of both new and existing customers.”
The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to voice vote by the Speaker of the house, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Subsequently, the house mandated the committee on governmental affairs led by Akin Alabi, the lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona Ara federal constituency and the founder of NairaBet, to ensure compliance.
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