The House of Representatives has made a decision to halt sports betting nationwide and called upon the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to adhere to the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act of 2005.
This resolution came after Rep. Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers) presented a motion during Thursday’s plenary session in Abuja.
Previously, it was reported that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 are involved in sports betting.
Rep. Nwogu highlighted that the lax regulation of sports betting has resulted in mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and addiction. Moreover, it has strained or severed relationships, caused financial problems, legal troubles, and job loss due to excessive debt.
He emphasized the necessity of campaigns to prevent the negative social consequences of gambling and underage involvement.
In response, the House called on the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to conduct a nationwide campaign to educate the public about the adverse effects of youth participation in sports betting.
Additionally, the House instructed the Committee on Inter-governmental Affairs to organize a public hearing on the harmful effects of sports betting in Nigeria and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
According to data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), over 65 million Nigerians are actively involved in betting, spending an average of $15 daily.
Furthermore, Nigerians spend an estimated $975 million daily on online sports betting, totaling about $356 billion annually.