Hisbah To Clamp Down On Betting Shops After Supreme Court Nullifies National Lottery Act

Islamic morality police in Kano, Nigeria, are set to intensify their crackdown on betting shops following a Supreme Court ruling that gambling regulation falls under state jurisdiction.

The court on Friday struck down the 2005 National Lottery Act, which had legalized sports betting and gambling under federal law.

The ruling clarified that the power to regulate gambling rests with individual states, a significant victory for Kano State, where sharia law prohibits gambling.

Abba Sufi, Director General of Kano Hisbah, announced plans to resume raids on betting establishments, emphasizing that gambling contravenes Islamic principles upheld in the state.

“With this verdict, the controversy over lottery legislation between federal and state governments has been resolved,” Sufi stated. He added that betting, which had gained popularity in Kano, is illegal under the state’s sharia laws.

The Hisbah, responsible for enforcing Islamic law in Kano, temporarily halted their operations last month after the National Lottery Commission contested their actions, citing federal laws permitting sports betting.

However, with the Supreme Court’s decision, Hisbah plans to resume enforcement activities with “renewed determination.”

Kano has over 200 betting shops where residents place wagers on international soccer matches and horse races, according to Sydney Emeafu, head of the National Union of Gaming and Lottery Workers (NUGLOW) in Kano.

These establishments have become a source of concern for parents, who blame them for luring young people into gambling.

Sufi highlighted economic pressures as a factor driving many into gambling, calling it a “vice” that the state must combat to protect its citizens.

Kano is one of 12 northern Nigerian states practicing sharia law alongside federal statutes.

The ruling underscores the autonomy of states in enforcing laws aligned with local beliefs and customs, marking a critical shift in Nigeria’s gambling regulatory landscape.