Gambling and sports betting are thriving industries all around the world, however, in recent news, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is moving to ban sports betting in the country. The move is receiving heavy backlash from bettors, operators, sports enthusiasts, and those who currently benefit from the revenue generated from sports betting in Nigeria. This year, it’s estimated that revenue in the country from sports betting alone will see a 6.92% year-on-year growth rate and reach a projected market volume of $294 million. Despite this, the government in Nigeria is moving towards outright banning wagering on sports.

A Country Comparison
In comparison to other countries, this is a strict measure, but not unheard of. Countries that have already banned sports betting include Qatar, Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Algeria, and the state of Utah in the USA. On the other hand, a number of countries allow sports betting, like France, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Australia.

Nigeria is currently very similar in regulation to countries like Korea. In Korea, like in Nigeria, there are limited in-person wagering options, and online betting on games of chance like poker, blackjack, and baccarat are not allowed. Because of this, many bettors in Korea often opt to visit live baccarat site that are registered and licensed in countries outside of Korea, thus bypassing tricky local laws. Heecham Kim explains that these sites offer players unique benefits and a wide variety of games. In Nigeria, many bettors also visit offshore international sites to access their preferred games. Currently, in both countries, sports fans can place wagers via sportsbooks, however in Korea, the rules around sports betting are heavily regulated. Once Nigeria moves to ban sports betting, this will become one of the main differences between the two country's gambling rules.

In comparison to countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nigeria still has relatively lax gambling laws. In the UAE gambling is completely prohibited, with no physical casinos and online wagering and sports betting being banned. Even if and when Nigeria bans wagering on sports, the country will still be more gambling-friendly than extremely strict countries like the UAE.

Nigeria’s House of Representatives Proposal
The House of Representatives in Nigeria has moved to ban sports betting, making wagering on teams, players, and matches illegal. The proposal comes after a report was shared from The News Agency Of Nigeria (NAN) outlining that nearly 60 million Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40 wager on sports in the country currently.

In addition, the NAN report outlined that on average, sports bettors in Nigeria spend an average of $15 dollars per day placing wagers. When added together, this amounts to approximately $356 billion annually.

The People's Reaction
Although the government believes it is making moves to help its people, bettors and operators disagree. One team member from local sportsbook operator SportyBet shared that they thought the timing was off, and did not understand why the government would move to shut down sportsbooks, which are major employers in the country. The anonymous employee went on to share that many Nigerians struggle to make ends meet, and shutting down a booming industry will have ripple effects, negatively impacting thousands of locals. Not only will many lose their jobs, if sportsbooks are shut down, but, their families and those who depend on them will also be affected by these changes. In reply to the situation, the anonymous employee was quoted as saying: “It is ridiculous. This government is confused. In a country where people are struggling to make ends meet, they want to crush the masses with another policy that will render more people jobless. It is very insensitive.”

Punters are also not happy. Many believe that the government is banning sports betting as a distraction method, in the hopes of taking eyes off of other mistakes they have recently made. Punters also agree that the change could not come at a worse time, given the current economy and the need for employment in the region.

Looking Ahead
Now that the House of Representatives is moving to make sports betting illegal in Nigeria, it leaves bettors with a reduced number of options. But, there are still ways to wager. Nigeria is home to a small amount of in-person traditional casinos, where bettors can play games. In addition, the government of Nigeria operates a popular lottery that citizens can play for their chance to win big.

Unfortunately, games of chance like poker, roulette, and baccarat are now allowed in the country. And, once the new rules proposed by the House of Representatives have passed, sports betting will no longer be allowed, either. Many experts agree that after the ban on sports betting Nigeria may see an increase in local punters visiting offshore sites and even anonymous betting sites in order to place wagers on sports teams and play games of chance. By accessing international sites that are registered in countries with more lenient laws, citizens in Nigeria may be able to bypass tough local restrictions and continue supporting their favorite sports teams.

Somebody said life is boring without a pending ticket.. Na their I gave up on him but on Sunday he loan me 50k he won from gambling.. The tin tire me walahi may maybe I go ask am for sure odds ma try to

Welcome development,they should ban sport betting abeg the thing don kill youths. Can u immagine there is no trust again bcs of virtual