Why Young People Are Addicted To Betting Apps by Apostle Femi Lazarus: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

How Serious Is the Gambling Problem in Nigeria?

How serious is the issue of gambling in Nigeria, and what do the numbers actually tell us?

Over the past five to seven years, there has been a sharp rise in gambling activities across the country and across Africa. Data from the National News Agency of Nigeria suggests at least 60 to 65 million Nigerians are gambling, with many doing so daily. However, numbers from independent researchers must always be read with caution — bias exists both in industry-funded studies and in advocacy-driven research. What responsible researchers try to do is survey active gamblers directly. In one study of 270 active gamblers, those who gambled frequently were found to be four times more likely to experience harm than those who were not frequent gamblers.

The Mind of a Gambler

What does the mind of an average gambler look like?

The average gambler believes what they are doing is a way to earn income. They believe it is normal. They enter because money is needed, and then — when they lose — they feel they have contributed toward a wallet that will eventually yield to them. This is called the gambler's fallacy: the belief that if you have had a losing streak, a win must be coming. So they chase their losses. That is where most players are found.

There is also a case of someone who faked his own kidnap, collected the ransom, came home, did a thanksgiving in church — and went straight back into gambling. He did it because he needed to clear a debt. There are also those who die by suicide after gambling away everything they had saved — in some cases, money entrusted to them by neighbours through contribution schemes.

The entry point into gambling is wider than the exit.

Is Gambling Amoral?

Can there be such a thing as moderate gambling? Is gambling itself good or bad?

Gambling is defined as placing something of value on an event whose outcome is uncertain, with an expectation of a return. By that definition, certain kinds of Forex trading, spread betting, and virtual gaming all qualify as gambling. Those who say gambling is amoral argue it is neither good nor bad in itself — it is the interaction with it that makes it either. However, research shows that even people at the low-risk level carry some exposure to harm, and that harm grows as frequency increases. There is low risk, moderate risk, high risk, and addiction. People move from one to the next.

Virtual Gaming and the Speed of Loss

Virtual gaming — games that resolve in two minutes rather than 90 — is among the most dangerous gambling formats. The short duration makes it easy to keep playing. All of one's savings can disappear in those two minutes. Most people who become hooked on gambling have virtual gaming in their history. The fast pace, lower cost per bet, and rapid resolution make it uniquely addictive.

The Role of Operators and Regulators

Do gambling organizations actually know when their customers are becoming problem gamblers?

Yes. Gaming operators invest in behavior analytic tools that track what games players choose, how much they spend, and how often they play. These same tools have the capability to detect when someone is chasing losses. The information exists. The problem is whether the policy in place requires acting on it. A responsible gaming officer whose job is to find who has self-excluded, who has played beyond their means, and who is at risk — that role now exists in some Nigerian companies. It did not exist five years ago.

Where the system fails is when operators are incentivized to maximize revenue from problem players rather than protect them. If operator A stops taking bets from at-risk players and operator B does not, then responsible behavior becomes a competitive disadvantage. That is why regulation must create a level playing field.

Government benefits from gambling through licensing fees and tax remittances. If government was not benefiting, gambling would have been shut down already. That creates a conflict of interest — regulators setting revenue targets while also being tasked with player protection. The solution is making compliance easy and non-compliance very expensive.

Markers of Harm

How can someone tell when gambling is becoming a serious problem?

• Lying about gambling to others.
• Betting larger amounts at the end of the month — showing salary is being spent.
• Using multiple debit or credit cards — either they are stolen, or one card has been maxed out.
• Being unable to go 30 minutes in conversation without mentioning gambling.
• Saying "I just need to win this one back, then I will quit."
• Chasing losses — the person is moving toward serious harm.

Winning does not mean a person has escaped problem gambling. Vulnerability levels are different for different people. Someone spending what looks like a modest amount may be a far more serious problem gambler than someone spending millions, depending on what that amount represents relative to their income.

Getting Help

Help is available. Talk to someone. Seek a therapist. Addiction is a case where the person genuinely cannot help themselves — if they could, they would have stopped. Most times the belief that "I can stop whenever I want" is the lie that keeps people in. Some need psychotherapy — education and rewiring of thought patterns. Others need deeper intervention. The first step is honesty: name what is happening and reach out.

For those who have lost much — relationships, trust, finances, jobs — get help. That is just one life, and it does not have to be blown away.