The Islamic morality police in Kano, northern Nigeria, will resume their crackdown on betting shops following a Supreme Court decision regarding gambling laws. The court overturned the 2005 law that created a national lottery commission and legalized sports betting, ruling that regulation of gambling falls under the authority of state governments.
Kano, one of 12 predominantly Muslim states in Nigeria with Sharia law alongside federal law, has long prohibited gambling. Abba Sufi, director of the Kano Hisbah, which enforces Sharia law in the state, stated, “We will resume our clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination, as betting is illegal under Kano’s Sharia law.”
Last month, Hisbah operatives raided and closed several football betting shops in Kano, arguing they promoted gambling, which is prohibited under Islamic law. However, the raids were suspended after the National Lottery Commission cited the 2005 Lottery Act, which legalized football betting under federal law, according to Sufi.
“This ruling settles the dispute over who should regulate lottery laws—state or federal governments,” Sufi said. “In Kano, we oppose the lottery law, as it legitimizes gambling, which is strictly prohibited in Islam.”
Kano has around 200 betting shops, where customers place bets while watching international soccer and horse races, according to Sydney Emeafu, head of the National Union of Gaming and Lottery Workers (NUGLOW) in Kano.
Sufi emphasized that the raids were triggered by concerns from parents about children becoming involved in gambling due to their love of football. “The tough economic climate is pushing more people into football gambling, hoping for easy money, but many are becoming addicted,” he added.
