[SPONSORED] Curbing Underage Betting in Nigeria -By ‘Leye Aduloju

The sports betting industry is rapidly growing in Nigeria, with more people turning to online betting sites to place bets on their favorite sports teams and events. The industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years, driven by a combination of factors such as the increasing popularity of sports, the widespread availability of smartphones and internet penetration, as well as increased advertising of betting sites.

According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria has over 200 million mobile phone users in 2020. 84.5 million of those people are estimated to have internet access. This increased access to technology has helped to drive the growth of sports betting, with many Nigerians now able to place bets on their mobile devices on the go.

One of the main reasons why sports betting has become so huge in Nigeria is the popularity of sports in the country. Nigerians are passionate about football, which is the most followed sport in the country. With the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, German Bundesliga, French Ligue 1 as well as other European football leagues being widely followed in Nigeria, many Nigerians place bets on matches from these leagues and other less popular sports. For instance, some Nigerians even prefer to place bets on other sports such as basketball, tennis, and boxing are also popular among Nigerian bettors.

Another factor driving the growth of sports betting in Nigeria is the ease of use of online betting platforms. Most online bookmakers now have user-friendly interfaces that make it easy for even rookie bettors to place bets on sports events. This has made it easy for Nigerians to place bets on sports events from the comfort of their homes or offices, without having to visit a physical betting shop.

Furthermore, Betting sites in Nigeria often use betting bonuses as a powerful marketing tool to attract new customers. These bonuses come in different forms, such as welcome bonuses, free bets, and deposit bonuses. Welcome bonuses, for example, are given to new customers who register on the platform and make their first deposit. A comprehensive list of betting bonuses can be found on Betting Bonus Nigeria, a site that compares betting site offers for players.

The growth of sports betting in Nigeria may not be unconnected to the wide array of payment options. Most online bookmakers now accept a variety of payment methods, including debit and credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets such as Paystack and Neteller. This has made it easy for Nigerians to fund their betting accounts and withdraw their winnings.

However, the growth of sports betting is not devoid of challenges. One of the main issues is the problem of gambling. With betting platforms readily accessible, many people are now becoming addicted to online gambling which in turn causes social and financial problems. To stem this tide, the government through relevant agencies like the National Lottery Regulatory Commission should put effective mechanisms in place for a healthy online betting culture.

Although bookmakers already have some measures including self-exclusion programs, deposit caps as well as account deactivation in place to curb the ugly trend, more still has to be done.

In conclusion, sports betting is now a widely accepted pastime in Nigeria. And while there is a thriving online sports betting industry, the effects of online gambling should not be neglected.