Gambling Problem among Nigerian Youth. A Short Update

Table of contents

Introduction

Problem Gambling among Nigerian Youth

Causes and Effects of Problem Gambling

Systematic Review of Previous Empirical Studies

Implications for Counselling

Conclusion and Recommendations

References

Abstract

Gambling among youth remains a salient problem that is less recognised as a social menace among education stakeholders and researchers. This is because it is a common phenomenon that is considered as recreational activity and even legalised by Nigeria government through which revenue are generated (tax collected from the owners of various gambling companies). However, experts (Derevensky, Gupta, Dickson & Deguire, 2004; Chimezie, 2015) have noted that it causes more harm to the youth and the society than the good it may seem to portray. In view of this, this paper presents the update on problem gambling among Nigeria youth; looking at its prevalence, forms, the industry, causes and effects, empirical review of previous studies and its counselling implications. It was concluded on this basis that counselling programmes should be organsied in town halls of every community to sensitise the citizens on the danger inherent in gambling and reshape or change people’s perception positively on gambling behaviour.

Key Words: Problem, Gambling, Nigerian, youth, Update, systematic, Review, Empirical, Studies, Counselling, Implications

Introduction

Gambling can be defined as any activity (a game of chance or skill) where an item of value is placed at risk in an attempt to gain something of greater value. Gambling is taking a risky action in the hope of a desired result. Gambling exists in different forms but varies in popularity among different groups and classes of people; some of those forms include lotteries, casinos, sport betting, poker, gaming and pool betting. Gambling is a big business globally to the extent that it is now taxable and regulated as a legitimate business (Requirement of Online Sports Betting in Lagos 2015; National Sport Policy of Nigeria 2009). Betting makes up about 35% of the global gambling market; in 2016 alone, the gambling industry made a total gross profit of 450 billion US dollars which was higher than Nigeria’s GDP in the same period (Dada, 2016). Thus, gambling is a large business across the globe and betting makes a significant portion of it.

Over 2,000 years ago, the first betting events were recorded in history during the time of the Greek city states. The Romans later adopted it from the Greeks and they expanded it into a real business, especially from the famous gladiator games. It then spread to England, with its famous horse racing and subsequently, reached the rest of the world. Over the years, many gambling companies have emerged in Nigeria. They include, Nairabet, Merrybet, Bet9ja, Naijabet, Lovingbet, Surebet247, Supabets, 1960bet, Nairastake, Parknbet, 360bet, Sportybet, Plusbet, Skybetnaija, 9jadollarbet, Visabet, Winnersgoldenbet, and many more. Gambling outlets is widespread in nearly every street in Nigeria’s major cities.

All forms of gambling in Nigeria including sports betting is regulated by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission because they generate a huge revenue from it. The gambling was legalized by the National Lottery Act, 2005 and gambling was defined by the Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code Act enacted in 1990. It is important to note that gambling is illegal for youngsters below 18 years of age in Nigeria; even though its legal actions were hardly being seen or heard against victims within this age range.

Gambling has recorded immense improvement among other business enterprises in Nigeria. For instance, the data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) according to CBN (2019), there were 14 million web payments worth a total of N132 billion ($420 million); transactions leapt to 29 million worth N185 billion in 2017 and in the first quarter of 2018, there were nearly 10 million worth N61 billion. A leading report on gambling in Africa, published in 2016 by KPMG, showed some shocking numbers from the sports betting industry in Nigeria. As at 2016, Bet9ja accrued a worth of $10m for an average monthly turnover, while NairaBet made an average turnover of $3m-$5m, which indicated a 20-30% margin on profit (Adebayo, 2018). In addition, the report of a global study conducted by NewZoo in 2018 showed that Nigeria (with $180 million) was ranked second in Africa after Egypt (with $286 million) that took the first position in the revenue generated from sports gambling (Owoeye, 2018). Furthermore, the findings rated Nigeria 35th out of the 100 countries studied across the world; while China topped the 100 countries with $37.9bn revenue generation (Owoeye, 2018). These revenue figures were based only on consumer spending in each country.

Gambling poses a significant challenge to the public health. Recent statistics showed that adolescents and young adults face highest risk of developing gambling problems. This is because of the increase in gambling centres, where the underage are daily being exposed to unregulated forms of gambling and are daily succumbing to the temptation and pressure to engage in the act. As in most game of chance, money is spent to get more money. For youth who rely on their parents for their daily bread, the money to bet has to be gotten from their parents under false pretext. If this fails, they look for other means of getting the money to satisfy their urge to gamble. At this point, gambling becomes an addiction. This is otherwise known as problem gambling, gambling disorder, or pathological gambling for the chronic aspect of it.

Problem Gambling among Nigerian Youth

Problem gambling or gambling addiction or gambling disorder has been defined as a bio-psychosocial disorder characterised by a persistent and recurrent maladaptive pattern of gambling behaviour (Clark, Averbeck, Payer, Sescousse, Winstanley & Xue, 2013). It is a repeated problematic betting behaviour that causes significant problems or distress to the victim. Problem gambling is also referred to as compulsive gambling. Initially included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-III under the name “pathological gambling” (Spitzer & Williams, 1980), this condition was subsequently renamed “gambling disorder” (GD) in the DSM-V and classified alongside substance-related disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Saunders, 2017).

Problem gambling affects people of all ages, from adolescents as young as 10 to adults in their senior years. It is not a matter of being irresponsible; it is an addiction rooted in the brain just as are the drug and alcohol addictions of millions of people. It is not bad a behaviour or a bad habit; it is a serious condition. In the United State, two million adults meet the criteria for pathological gambling (the most severe level of gambling addiction), and another four to six million are considered problem gamblers. Also, the earlier a person is introduced to gambling, the more likely they are to become problem gamblers (GeoPoll, 2017).

Lynch, Maciejewski and Potenza (2004) asserted that early age at gambling onset might influence mental health functioning later in life. For example, an adult gambler who initiated gambling behaviour at adolescence stage was found to be more likely to report substance use problems than were those who started gambling as adults. Elevated rates of alcohol use, abuse, and dependence are reported in association with gambling in adolescent boys and girls as compared to their non-gambling peers. However, there appears to be gender differences in the association between gambling and mood, with girls who gamble being more likely to report dysthymia/depression in association with gambling than are boys (Desai, Maciejewski, Pantalon & Potenza, 2005).

A survey evaluated gambling-related activities in 3,879 youth aged between 17 and 35 (based on the African Youth Charter) in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania found that 54% of youth in sub-Sahara Africa have engaged in some form of gambling activity (GeoPoll, 2017). Importantly, some of these studies pointed to a significant burden of gambling problems among young people in sub-Sahara Africa (Collins & Barr, 2001; Abdi, Ruiter & Adal, 2015). For example, one study conducted among high school adolescents in Ethiopia reported that 73% of the adolescents had ever gambled. Of these, 37% were at risk for severe problematic gambling; while 7% were already problematic or pathological gamblers as screened by the DSM-IV-Juvenile checklist (Abdi, Ruiter & Adal, 2015).

Similarly, gambling has become a growing trend amongst young Nigerians aged between 18 – 35 years, who accounted for the highest proportion of Nigerians who engage in the practice.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN, 2019), about 60 million Nigerians between the ages 18 and 40 years spend up to N1.8 billion Naira on sports betting daily with an average investment of N3,000 Naira per day.

Week (2017) reported the findings of NOIPolls (2017), that a significant proportion of Nigerians polled (77%) attested to the high prevalence of gambling in their locality; particularly among youth in the South-West (92%) and South-South (91%) geo-political zones which recorded the highest prevalence. Also, the top four betting platforms identified by Nigerians are; Bet9ja (64 percent), Nairabet (34 percent), Pool (22 percent) and Lotto (20 percent). Furthermore, in terms of active participation, 36% of those polled admitted that they personally engaged or have family members who engaged in gambling. However, 60% of this same group reported that they win a bet ‘few times a month’; while 8% revealed that they have ‘never won a bet’.

Causes and Effects of Problem Gambling

In reality, gambling has its positive and negative sides however, given Nigeria’s recession and high unemployment figures, the impact of the gambling industry in the nation’s economy has been positive as it has created thousands of jobs directly and indirectly. Big betting companies have staff strength running into hundreds; and through their associate and affiliate networks, they offer agents a source of livelihood from commissions earned as people engage in betting (Week, 2017). A study (Week, 2017) has revealed in its findings that 26% mentioned ‘timely payment’ as the main factor that influences their choice. This was closely followed by respondents who believed it is the ‘odds/stake placed on a game’ (24%). Other determinants mentioned include ‘reputation for payment’ (21%), ‘ease of use’ (15%) among others. Finally, analysis of results revealed ‘quest for quick money’ (30%), ‘Unemployment’ (21%) and ‘greed’ (15%) topped the list of reasons why Nigerian, particularly the youth engage in gambling. Other reasons include; cushioning the effect of economic hardship ’(12%), ‘poverty ’(10%), ‘just for fun ’(5%), ‘passion for sports’ (5%) and ‘peering group influence’ (2%) (Week, 2017).

Lotto gambling, popularly known as “BABA IJEBU” in south western Nigeria among others, the telecommunication service provider companies such as MTN, GLOBACOM, AIRTEL, ETISALAT etcetera also promote gambling by introducing promotion where a subscriber will recharge certain amount and get a visa to travel to England to watch the English premiership matches live and also the introduction of “who wants to be a millionaire” programme, the Nigerian Bottling Companies and Breweries are not left out in their so-called marketing techniques or promotions. In spite of attempts to protect young ones from gambling problem few restrictions on the marketing of gambling products help increasing their involvement (Monaghan, 2008). Evidence of high rates of gambling and associated problem among the youth indicates that the issue of gambling must be addressed to minimize harm (Dervensky & Gupta, 2004).

A survey of Canadians adults found that while the majority of respondents were aware of the negative consequences of gambling and believed that the problems associated with gambling have increased, the majority still indicated that gambling was an acceptable activity (Azmier, 2001). The acceptance of gambling as a harmless form of entertainment vastly underestimates the risks involved. A survey of 8th graders in Delaware found that youth who gamble were 50% more likely to drink alcohol, more than twice as likely to binge drink, more than three times as likely to use marijuana and other illegal drugs, and almost three times as likely to get into trouble with the police, be involved in gang fights and steal or shoplift (Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, 2001).

Gambling in any form increases the likelihood of participation in other forms of gambling. What starts off as an occasional, fun activity may potentially escalate into a serious problem. Research repeatedly demonstrated that individuals who begin gambling earlier in life are at higher-risks of developing gambling-related problems (Griffiths, 1995; Gupta & Derevensky, 1998). Experts (such as Jacob, 2000; Meyer, Hayer & Griffiths, 2009) have established that problem gambling is associated with adverse psychological, physical, economic, social and legal outcomes. Problematic gambling among adolescents is associated with increased behavioural problems including delinquency and crime, disruption of relationships, impaired academic performance and work activities as well as poor psychological outcomes, including low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal ideations and attempts (Derevensky, 2008; Derevensky & Gupta, 2002; Gupta & Derevensky, 2008).

Its effect is devastating to the perpetrator, the family and the society at large. When the money stops coming the way of a gambler, he may engage in drugs in frustration. In trying to escape poverty and play roles in the financial upkeep of their families, many youths have chosen to indulge in gambling to put food on their family’s table. Unfortunately, the most active participants in this trade are youths whose main objective is the desire to get rich at all cost and crush any obstacle that might stand against their desire rather than striving to achieve success through good means (Okorodudu, 2014).

Problem gambling has negative effects associated with excessive play; such as, poor academic performance, moodiness, loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed and interpersonal conflict (Griffiths & Wood, 2004). According Philip (2014), gambling makes an individual wager his/her money or other valuable items on an uncertain event. It is dependent, partly or wholly, on chance. In the long run, the bet causes harm to the gambler after he loses his chance. Gambling is a game of chance in which the probability of winning is an independent event. That is, just as there are only two sides to a coin, there are also only two sides in gambling. It is either one wins or loses. There is no such thing as sitting on the fence in a bet.

According to Blinn-Pike, Worthy and Jonkman (2007) financial behaviours were associated with sensation seeking and risk-taking activities like gambling. Youths often use resources such as credit cards, debit cards, or borrowed money to gamble; this is common for adult gamblers as well, but these habits may have greater negative financial consequences in a younger population. Problem gambling can destroys one’s relationship with family, friends, and colleagues. Due to obsession with the game a person is isolated from the family members which can cause serious family crisis. Certainly, no mother will proudly introduce his son as a football betting maniac. Religions prohibit any game which involves betting, that is, which has an element of gambling in it. It is not lawful for the adherents of Islamic and Christian religions to seek relaxation and recreation in gambling, nor is it lawful for them to acquire money through it.

Systematic Review of Previous Empirical Studies

Some of the empirical studies related to the topic of discoursed are discussed as follows: The research effort by Erickson, Molina, Ladd, Pietrzak and Petry (2005), explored the association of problem and pathological gambling with poorer mental and physical health in older adults. Adults (n = 343) aged 60 years and older attending senior centers, bingo sites and other community activities completed a screening form containing the South Oaks Gambling Screen and the Short Form-12 Health Survey, to evaluate physical and mental health. Overall, 6.4% of the respondents were classified as problem gamblers and an additional 3.8% as pathological gamblers. Problem and pathological gamblers evidenced significantly greater physical and mental health problems than non-problem gamblers. These result suggested that about 10 percent of active older adults experience gambling problems, which are associated with poor physical and mental health.

In another research, Enwereuzor, Ugwu and Ugwu (2006) worked on the role of smartphone addiction in gambling passion and schoolwork engagement: A Dualistic Model of Passion approach. Drawing from the model, the study therefore, examined the mediatory role of smartphone addiction in the gambling passion; schoolwork engagement relation. A cross-sectional design was adopted. Male undergraduates (N = 278) of a large public university in Nigeria who engage in Internet gambling participated in the study. They completed self-report measures of gambling passion, smartphone addiction, and schoolwork engagement. The study findings indicated that harmonious gambling passion was not related to smartphone addiction whereas it was positively related to schoolwork engagement. Obsessive gambling passion had positive and negative relations with smartphone addiction and schoolwork engagement, respectively. Smartphone addiction was negatively related to schoolwork engagement and mediated only the obsessive gambling passion; schoolwork engagement relation but not that between harmonious gambling passion and schoolwork engagement.

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