Kano Hisbah To Crackdown On Betting Outfits After S/Court Ruling

Kano State Hisbah Board has declared its readiness to resume raids on betting shops after the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that gambling regulation falls under the jurisdiction of state governments.

The ruling invalidated a 2005 federal law that established the National Lottery Commission and legalised sports betting nationwide. The court ruled that gambling regulation is a matter for state governments.

The director general of Kano Hisbah Board, Abba Sufi,  announced the decision during an interview with AFP, stating that the verdict provided clarity on the authority to regulate gambling.

“We will resume our clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination since betting is illegal under Kano State sharia law,” he said.

Last month, Hisbah operatives conducted raids across Kano city, shutting down dozens of football betting shops.

However, the operations were halted after the National Lottery Commission protested that the 2005 Lottery Act permitted such activities under federal law.