Reps want gamers to link sports betting accounts with NIN

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to ensure that online betting customers link their accounts with their National Identity Numbers.

The House directed the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to ensure that all gaming operators in Nigeria integrate the National Identity (NIN) in their data collection.

This resolution followed a motion moved by Ibrahim Isiaka on Thursday.

Isiaka disclosed in his motion “that 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 expressed concerns that the customers are mostly anonymous, noting that with the level of transactions, it is risky to have poor data.

“Mindful that 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.

“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,” he said.

The motion was taken without debate, hence, the House mandated the Committee on Governmental Affairs to ensure compliance.