History
Nigeria is a country that gained independence only in the year 1960 and established its current constitution in 1999 after revising the one it had established in 1989. The country also suffered under military rule for a period of 16 years and is still shaking off the after effects of this. Nigerian casino industry was established firmly in 1999, when the country laid down laws for those practicing any forms of betting or gambling with unlicensed institutions. The country has 36 states but only has 2 or 3 licensed land casinos and although there are some illegal gambling establishments, all these operate in secret and are subject to criminal prosecution should they ever be caught. Nigeria has also been very slow and almost reluctant to grant out casino licenses.
In the year 2004, the country launched its first lottery which proved to be a big success. Most of the casino resorts Nigeria are in Lagos and Abuja, the capital of the city. However, it must also be noted that despite being the only few casinos in the country, these casinos have very small gambling floors and only host a dozen or so table games.
Playing at casino resorts in Nigeria is perfectly legal. In fact, the government of Nigeria has legalized and regulated only two forms of gambling—casino resorts and the national lottery. The gambling laws in Nigeria are strict and the industry is heavily regulated, but this does not prevent unscrupulous operators from running lotteries and casino games without a license. Since the sole intention of unlicensed operators is to fleece tourists to Nigeria, one must be very careful before gambling away one’s hard-earned money in Nigeria.
Land-based Casino Gambling Laws
The Criminal Code Act, which the government of Nigeria, implemented in the year 1999 clarifies several issues related to casino resort gambling in Nigeria. Several forms of gambling are considered illegal, according to this Act. For instance, betting on roulette, certain dice games, and card games that are not considered games of skill is illegal. Otherwise, placing bets in casino resorts approved and licensed by the Government of Nigeria is perfectly legal.
Casino Resorts and Hotels
The Government of Nigeria has licensed two casino land resorts—Nicon Hilton in Abuja and Le Meridien Eko Hotel and Casino.
The Nicon Hilton has 40 gaming machines and 9 table games. The facility includes four restaurants and a hotel with over 650 rooms. This casino resort facility is Nigeria’s first, oldest, and largest, located right in the heart of the city.
Le Meridien Eko Hotel and Casino offers over 15 card games and poker games and is available only during the day. The facility includes a hotel with over 600 rooms. Players can gamble in Nigerian Naira and get customer support in English. It is conveniently located around 20 miles from the closest airport.
Besides, the government of Nigeria has licensed yet another casino resort in Lagos.
