TheCable

The house of representatives has asked the ministry of information and national orientation to conduct “nationwide campaigns” to raise awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during the plenary session on Thursday after the adoption of a motion sponsored by Kelechi Nwogu, a lawmaker from Rivers state.

While moving the motion, Nwogu said sports betting is “expanding like wildfire globally”, including in Nigeria.

The legislator said “weak” regulations of sports betting have “dangerously” led to “mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, or addiction, strained or broken relationships due to lying or stealing from friends and family, financial problems, legal issues, and job loss due to excessive loss or debt, increased crime rates and eventually committing suicide”.

The lawmaker said, “most players prefer betting through their mobile phones instead of visiting retail outlets in order to evade control and regulations”.

Nwogu said if sports betting is “properly regulated and supervised”, it will generate tax revenue for the government and contribute to economic growth.

The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.

The house subsequently invited the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to brief the lawmakers on the “efforts to safeguard the right of sports betting players”.

The lawmakers asked the information minister to “conduct comprehensive nationwide campaigns to raise public awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting”.