Lawmaker clarifies there’s no move to ban sports betting in Nigeria

Jenny Ortiz February 20, 2024

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Lawmaker clarifies there’s no move to ban sports betting in Nigeria

A Nigerian lawmaker clarified that there is no motion filed at the country’s House of Representatives aiming to ban sports betting in the West African nation.

In a post in X (formerly Twitter), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Rep. Kelechi Nwogu corrected the earlier news reports.

“Contrary to Instablog and other media reports, the motion does not aim to ban [sports] betting,” Nwogu said.

“[The motion’s] purpose is to protect players’ rights and ensure compliance with existing regulations,” Nwogu said. “I am committed to fostering responsible gambling and creating a fair and transparent industry.”

Nwogu also encouraged better dissemination of information following reports published last week that he and the PDP had drafted a bill calling on Nigerian ministers to prohibit sports betting in the country.

“Let’s rely on accurate information and work together for the betterment of Nigeria. Regulate sports betting,” he added.

“Ban misconceptions”

Last week, Nigeria’s House of Representatives held a plenary meeting in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) participated.

The NLRC is in charge of the licensing and regulation of the lottery and gambling activities in the country.

However, after the plenary meeting, several media reported that Nigerian lawmakers wanted to ban sports betting.

Sports betting industry in Nigeria

According to the data from Nigeria’s National Lottery Trust Fund, around 60 million people between the ages of 18 and 40 are currently engaging in sports betting in the country.

According to a report by SBCNews, Nwogu cautioned about the detrimental impact of insufficient regulations on the mental well-being of Nigeria’s youth, particularly about the prevalence of sports betting.

Nwogu highlighted how lax oversight has contributed to issues such as mounting debts, unemployment, strained family dynamics, and, in extreme cases, elevated levels of criminal activity and suicides.

He also urged the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation for the creation of national campaigns that will raise awareness on the negative effects of sports betting, especially among the youth.?

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