Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has said that technology and decentralisation of regulatory powers are key to the development and growth of the Nigerian gaming industry.

He stated that his government would soon roll out advanced technologies and awareness campaigns to promote responsible gaming, protect vulnerable communities, and eliminate underage gambling in Enugu State.

Mbah spoke during the opening of the second edition of the Enugu Gaming Conference organised by the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission.

The two-day conference, which has “From Unification to Diversification: Shaping Nigeria’s Gaming Future” as its theme, is part of the resolve of the Enugu State Government to shape and grow the state’s gaming industry.

Mbah, represented by the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Urama, emphasised the transformative potential of the gaming industry as a catalyst for job creation and economic growth.

He commended the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission for organising the conference and reiterated his administration’s commitment to revolutionising the gaming sector through technological, innovative and robust regulation.

“Over the past year, the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission has taken giant strides in regulatory transformation, and I am proud to share that we have invested in cutting-edge digital infrastructure aimed at raising the bar for regulatory excellence.

“At the heart of this transformation is the Automated License Verification and Operator Registration Portal, a secure intelligence system that enables real-time tracking, licensing, and validation of gaming operators across the state. This innovation has drastically reduced manual interference, minimised the risk of fraud, and ensured compliance with our gaming laws,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prince Arinze Arum, emphasised the evolving nature of the industry, noting that the conversion had been elevated.

“We must be honest with ourselves: the Nigerian gaming industry is at a critical juncture. The conversations are no longer just about enforcement or revenue generation. They are now about jurisdiction, innovation, technology, cross-border collaborations, and most importantly, structure,” he said.

Arum stressed the need for a decentralised regulatory framework tailored to local realities and economic priorities while maintaining synergy between state-level commissions and federal institutions.

“Unification gave us a framework. Diversification now demands that we tailor that framework to local realities, economic priorities, and constitutional responsibilities,” he emphasised.

The National Commissioner of the National Data Protection Commission, Vincent Olatunji, who was represented by Alexander Owen, stressed the importance of privacy, security, and compliance in shaping the future of gaming.

He advocated for robust age verification processes on gaming platforms to protect minors. He also warned that personal data collection must be consensual and limited to what was necessary for platform operations.