Nigeria’s top gaming company Starlight Ace Verde Gaming, operator of the Star Bet brand, is not relenting in efforts to make the gaming industry in Nigeria safe, entertaining and rewarding for all players through collaborations with relevant authorities.

Tope Oni, Managing Director of the Gaming firm stated this in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital when its membership team paid a visit to Olanimpe Akingba, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers (ANB).

Oni praised the association for the vital role it is playing in unifying the various stakeholders in the industry.

ANB is the national trade body that represents sports betting, lottery and gaming operators.

Founded in 2014, the Association acts as a collective voice for the sports betting industry to promote practical initiatives that will enhance the shared business interest of our members

Speaking on the visit, Oni said "This visit was quite important to recognize, appreciate her leadership role and the efforts she has made over two issues that we think is pertinent to the gaming industry in Nigeria".  

He said the visit was also important as he allowed them to discuss issues of regulation and taxation of members with the ANB.  "The first being the unification and management of states and federal lottery bodies with regard to taxation and every other matter that are of concern to bookmakers in Nigeria. I must say it was a very fruitful meeting with her' says Oni.

Another issue which is of importance to the starbet Management is that of responsible gambling which was also put on the front burner at the meeting.

"The second one is with regard to responsible gaming, at Starbet we are very concerned about our customers, we don’t want underage gaming, addiction, people betting with money not within their disposable income" he said.

Speaking how Starbet helps to promote responsible gaming, Oni said "On our platform, we have technology with regards to responsible gaming such that if we have noticed you have played for a particular number of times or you are using money we are not comfortable accepting we could ban your account for a day or a week. We will have our customer care agent speak to you to be sure you are doing this as a form of entertainment not from duress or being pressured or a form of addiction as the case maybe"

Olabimpe Akingba, Executive Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers, said both Federal and State laws governing the gaming industry in Africa's most popular nation must be harmonized to ensure that operators remain in business.

"States have come out with regulations and nothing at the federal level, this may not be perfect but there is something that recognizes the states. We are hoping for further discussion between them (States) to harmonise the laws. Honestly, we are at the point we cannot shy away from it." says the ANB official.

She called on regulators to improve measures against gaming vices like gambling addiction, irresponsible gaming and underage gaming.

Taking an expressed worry about underage gambling "I know we talk about underage gaming but interacting with secondary school students, hearing them talk about odds, moved me away from what I was thinking to reality. It struck me like, young people are really into this and it is sad, the industry needs to do something about this".

Akingba seized the opportunity to correct the erroneous belief by many that gaming is a money-doubling venture, stating that many often fall into regrettable situations because of that notion. " A lot of them did not know that gaming is just like entertainment, they just feel this is a means of you doubling your money and I said that is actually wrong. That is a recipe for you becoming an addict".

She added "Gaming is not for you to double your money or get rich overnight, you are supposed to use your disposable income. Is like you have had a long day at work and you just want to relax at a lounge, bar or watch a movie. That is the way it is, it is for the money you are willing to lose which in any case you are most likely to lose".

Access24 reports that Starbet, which launched in September 2022, has over 500 casinos and 200 Live Casino games, Virtual Leagues (Soccer, Horse race, Dog race etc) and Sports (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis) etc.

Starbet gives customers the biggest Bonus in the industry which can be used to earn winnings, unlike on other betting platforms on which you have to cumulatively use your bonus to play before winning.