Sports Betting: The Unchecked Rise of a Billion Naira Gambling Epidemic in Nigeria

With the massive love for sports – especially football – in Nigeria, the sports betting industry has thrived in the last 10 years. This is because sports lovers have found a way of putting their ‘money where their mouth is’ with hopes of getting ‘a reward’ for their enthusiasm.

And with the evolution of the internet, betting has become more accessible than it has ever been. Smartphones and laptops mean punters can now place bets at any time from anywhere and cash out their winnings without having to go to a physical shop.

This article explains how micro-franchising and growing volumes as quickly as possible was critical to the sustainability of Nigeria’s sports betting industry. https://t.co/v07Nt6Rnsq

— Stears Business (@StearsBusiness) July 12, 2019

This in addition to the high youth unemployment rate and love for sports has buoyed the influx of punters, mostly millennials, into the game. According to reports, 60 million Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40, are involved in active sports betting – online and offline.

Fueled by this massive following, prominent bookmakers like Bet9ja and Nairabet record massive traffic on their sites. Bet9ja, for example, is the 3rd most visited site in Nigeria according to Alexa rankings with a monthly figure of 28 million unique visitors on its platform.

And it’s not peculiar to Nigeria. A recent poll conducted across sub-Saharan Africa by the mobile survey company GeoPoll, showed that 54% of millennials (17-35-year-olds) in Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya have tried gambling.

This numbers certainly support that online sports betting is growing but there’s no confirmed data on the tole gambling is taking in communities. Hence, it’s not certain that this has had any negative impact. In fact, based on the influx of new players to the N5bn industry and the government’s efforts aimed at assisting the lottery commission to generate money for the federal government – these results are most likely seen as positive.

However, many have raised concerns about addiction to gambling with the youths particularly vulnerable.

Fight against sport betting in Nigeria!!!

— Sunday Benjamin Joseph (@SundayB94163072) July 13, 2019

Recently, a Twitter user shared a story of why he began speaking out against sport betting. According to him, his mom’s chauffeur attempted suicide and barely survived after running into debts from his betting escapades.

My mom's chauffeur is pretty much a member of our family. He has worked with her for a little more than 15 years and is the go-to resource for all mom-related information.

How is her health?
What's she doing this weekend?
What's her mood like?
Is she talking her meds?

Etc.

— Dr. Tayo Oyedeji (@tayooye) July 15, 2019

Apparently, he had always had a gambling habit but going to shops to play the bets had restrained him until access to online betting tipped the balance.

Apparently, Sola has had a gambling habit for years with minimal impact because of the physical cost of indulging it. To place a bet, he had to physically visit a betting booth.

Online betting changed the game and gave him access in his palm.

So he began to gambler compulsively

— Dr. Tayo Oyedeji (@tayooye) July 15, 2019

This is just one of the many stories of young individuals who have borne the brunt of addiction to gambling.

https://twitter.com/Raspberryspie/status/1150836306710290432?s=19

I know people that compulsive betting has hurt and almost ruined their lives for good.
Don’t even entertain the temptation to do it the first time, it’s a trap that you might not come out from.
Sports betting is a plague and shouldn’t be treated with levity at all.

— Antoinette (@tosdbaby) July 15, 2019

To the personal experience, a cousin of mine who got addicted to betting and used all monies given him for schooling on betting hasn't completed an ordinary national diploma till now (aged 24).

— OT (@oritsetosin) July 15, 2019

This has led to governments like Kenya and Uganda suspending the licenses of betting firms as well as banning sports betting sites altogether.

Gambling like smoking and alcohol are moral problem/ addiction and unemployment and laziness adds to it. Banning it makes them go underground which could bring danger/ violence along with it. We should preach against it as much in families and religious cycle

— OSENI Olanrewaju K-M (@lanrehussain) July 15, 2019

But users on social media, have come out to say this might not happen in Nigeria as many of these bookmakers are in bed with the government.

The tragedy of this social ill is that the two arrowheads of sports betting are actually in Politics. Kunle Soname looted Mile 12 revenue for 4 years as LGA chairman of Ketu-Ikosi LGA, then invested in sport betting. This guy sold his fathers sawmill in Remo to contest in 2002. https://t.co/3I7URrojDg

— Olayinka Oluwakuse (@NaijaAristocrat) July 16, 2019

The truth is, without clear evidence of an increase in gambling addiction having a negative effect along with the increasing punters and bookmakers, it is quite difficult to see the talk of an epidemic as more than media sensationalism.

https://twitter.com/slkie/status/1150707608577290240?s=19

National emergency! I hope that soon we would have a holistic conversation.

One significant point I'd like to correct is that we are pointing at poverty and unemployment as the reason, I disagree. Many gamblers have jobs, money and energy to work.

We should address GREED!

— Osaretin Iyare (@Iyare4President) July 15, 2019

What can you do.

3. Invest, don't gamble: put the $1 or $2 you waste on gambling into a fund and marvel at the powers of compound interest.

4. Advocate. Capitalism without conscience kills societies. That's why Western democracies have strong trade and gambling regulations.

— Dr. Tayo Oyedeji (@tayooye) July 15, 2019

Nevertheless, addiction is a real concern and compulsive gamblers might need to seek help to stop before they ruin themselves while also exploring other means of investment.

Feature image source: BenjaminDada.com