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The Grand Ballroom of the Ikeja Marriott Hotel came alive on Monday as sports betting platform iLOTBET presented a luxury five-bedroom duplex worth ₦150 million to Sokoto-based businessman Samuel Nneke, fulfilling the grand prize promise of its 2026 FIFA World Cup promotion.
The award ceremony, hosted by Nollywood actor and television personality Jide Awobona, attracted gaming industry regulators, corporate executives, media representatives, and hundreds of participants who gathered to celebrate the conclusion of the nationwide campaign.
While the highlight of the evening was the presentation of the duplex to Nneke, several other winners also walked away with prizes, including iPhone 17 smartphones, air conditioners, power generators, smart televisions, and high-capacity power banks.
Nneke, who travelled from Sokoto to Lagos for the event, emerged as the overall winner after participating consistently in the World Cup promotion by placing qualifying predictions throughout the tournament. According to iLOTBET, the winner was selected through a verified automated random draw.
Receiving the keys to his new home, an emotional Nneke described the victory as a reward for persistence and faith.
“I consistently participated in the World Cup promotion after seeing the advertisements, but I never imagined I would emerge as the overall winner,” he said.
“I wasn’t expecting to own a property like this in Lagos, and iLOTBET has made it possible. I played responsibly throughout the tournament, and this outcome is purely a product of luck and perseverance.”
Speaking at the ceremony, iLOTBET Managing Director Uma Ntima reflected on the company’s growth since its launch during the COVID-19 pandemic and its commitment to rewarding customers through major sporting events.
He noted that after giving away brand-new cars during previous tournaments, the company decided to raise the stakes in its 2026 World Cup campaign.
“Giveaways like this are part of our history. During the 2022 World Cup, we gave away a brand-new car to a lucky winner. In 2024, during the AFCON, we presented another car,” Ntima said.
“Coming into 2026, we thought it was time to do something even bigger. We’ve given away so many cars, so it only made sense to give someone a proper place to park them.”
Ntima also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to responsible gaming, stating that iLOTBET operates strict age-verification measures and provides responsible gaming tools, including self-exclusion features, to help users gamble responsibly.
The event was witnessed by officials from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), who monitored the promotional exercise.
Representing the LSLGA, Principal Legal Officer Kemi Adebiyi commended the company for conducting what she described as a transparent and compliant promotion.
“From the conduct, process, and verified drawing mechanisms we observed, this was a free, fair, and credible promotional activity conducted fully within our regulatory framework,” she said.
Throughout the evening, host Jide Awobona kept guests entertained as dozens of attendees received home appliances, electronic gadgets, and other consolation prizes.
The ceremony ended with a celebratory toast to Samuel Nneke, whose victory marked one of the biggest promotional prize payouts by a gaming operator in Nigeria, bringing the company’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign to a memorable close.
