It’s no longer news that, betting, gambling and gaming has become so popular in Nigeria to an extend that, the state of gambling has become worrisome. In fact, prior to now, gambling has existed in Nigeria but was viewed as an antisocial activity and was actively discouraged by parents and religious bodies.
On the other hand, the advent of online betting has drastically contributed to the raise of gambling in the country. In fact, online betting has continued to grow in Nigeria and more betting companies have emerged in the country such as, Bet9ja, 1xBet, BetKing, BetWinner, N1Bet, Parimatch, 22bet, Yangasport among others.
While high rate of unemployment could be responsible for the raise in gambling in the country, it’s also believe in some quarters that, lack of stringent regulation and enforcement, have resulted in the increased gambling related harm across different demographic in the country.
Speaking with one of the Bet9ja shop owner, situated in Jafojo, Iyana ipaja area of Lagos, Samson Olaleye said; “there’s money in betting business that is why i decided to put money together to own a betting shop.”
Also speaking on this issue, Ade Laolu who is popularly known as (Alfa) told our correspondent that, betting is one of the businesses in Nigeria one can do without lacking customers, adding that, the hope of stakers winning games has continued to be on the raise.
Talking to one of the regular customer, Akin Adejobi noted that, he personally makes a iving from betting, noting that, before delving into betting, he considered those playing bet as unserious people but when he graduated from school as an (NCE) holder in 2018, as young man who is eager to find a job after graduation but couldn’t find any, he has to look for means to survive, ‘man must chop’, that’s when he decided to go into betting, and since then he don’t regret being a number one fan of betting.
Also, a staker, Mr. Henry Uche disclosed that, many people are gambling now because of the situation of the country, saying that, they gamble to make a living.
According to him, gambling is legalized by the government, citing part of constitution to back his claims, he said in the late 1990s, in chapter 22, section 236 of the Criminal Code Act, the Nigerian government legalized certain forms of gambling in an attempt to generate revenues.
One Mr. Ogor Sunday who’s a phone accessories vendor, share his own opinion about gambling and betting, that gambling is a legal business, because betting is now a trending means of survival for both youths and adults in Nigeria to make a living.
He further said that, the society has now seen it as a normal thing and those involved in it now are not tagged as irresponsible people anymore, noting that, before the security personnesl use to arrest those involved in this act, but the narrative has change, because the so call security personnels also participate in it too.
