Sports Betting: The Hidden Threat Destroying Nigerian Youths

According to Ireporter Online, the rising addiction to sports betting among Nigerian youths has become a growing concern for parents, community leaders, and others responsible for guiding young people into adulthood.

While gambling has a long history spanning centuries, its popularity has surged globally, including in Nigeria, evolving from casino-based games into the widespread virtual sports betting seen today. Pool betting was first introduced in Nigeria during the 1920s under British colonial rule, but contemporary trends have extended far beyond traditional gambling venues.

Today, Nigerians from all walks of life—students, workers, underage individuals, and even women—are frequently seen at betting centres placing wagers on football matches, sports personalities, and other athletic events. What often appears as casual fun masks deeper consequences, including financial losses, disrupted focus, sleep deprivation, and, in extreme cases, tragic outcomes.

Data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) reveals that approximately 65 million Nigerians regularly engage in betting, spending an average of $15 per day per person. Social media is awash with stories of individuals losing essential funds, including house rent and school fees, to gambling. In January 2026, Kelvin Danlami, a 300-level Computer Science student at Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai in Niger State, reportedly took his life after losing money meant for rent to sports betting.

Experts warn that the culture of betting has shifted from a leisure activity to a survival strategy for many. Babajimi Ogunlana, a FIFA-licensed agent and former Managing Director at Betland, told Ireporter Online that the addictive nature of sports betting among Nigerian youths stems from structural issues, including unemployment, economic pressure, and a strong football culture. “With just ₦100 and a smartphone, anyone can bet 24/7,” Ogunlana noted.

He further observed that while regulations exist, enforcement has lagged behind the rapid digital expansion of betting. Weak age verification, inconsistent compliance monitoring, and cross-border platforms complicate oversight. Ogunlana called for modernised frameworks with loss limits, cooling-off systems, advertising restrictions, and mental health funding sourced from betting revenues.

The conversation, he argued, should focus not on government earnings but on reinvestment in prevention, education, and rehabilitation. Ogunlana also criticised celebrity-driven promotions that misrepresent betting as a “smart investment,” noting that marketing should prioritise transparency over persuasion.

He stressed that safeguarding vulnerable populations requires a collective effort, including stronger age verification, risk disclosure, financial literacy programmes, self-exclusion tools, and industry-funded addiction support. Ogunlana concluded that while betting itself is not inherently evil, unchecked gambling poses serious risks, and Nigeria faces a critical choice between becoming a “betting economy” or a “betting society.”