The Addictive Nature of Sports Betting
Football season is here and so is the increase in gambling addiction
It’s a Saturday morning and I called my dad to say hello. He picks up while simultaneously screaming — “idiot, pass the ball.” He’s screaming at the TV as per usual and its not even his team playing. He then goes on to tell me, how he and others are sharing their predictions on whether, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo was going to play, how many goals he was going to score and more.
Me: Daddy are you betting?
Daddy: No, it’s just on the Manchester United App.
Me: Yes, but are you using money to play?
Daddy: No, I would never.
I quickly reminded him that I had been working in the gambling addiction field for 3 years and I would hate to see him go down that path. It also spurred me, naturally, to come share the dangers of sports betting, which has been said to increase the risk of problem gambling, and represents the second most common gambling type reported by those who seek treatment for their gambling addiction. This is a huge problem in a country like Nigeria that boasts a very active and vibrant sports culture.
While gambling can be just a fun activity for most people, in Nigeria, the data shows that about 60 million Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40 are involved in active sport betting. They spend almost ₦2 billion on sports betting daily which translates to about ₦730 billion annually. Millions of naira is spent on advertising ads by the many (over 20) betting and unregulated betting companies in Nigeria. A major factor driving this market is the growing use of the internet and smart cell phones. Research shows that in 2017, 84% of Nigerians had cell phones. That number is sure to have grown by 2021 as with less than ₦500 (less than US$1) one can get internet connectivity.
The poll above clearly shows that 54 percent of respondents are betting daily and most of those who are betting daily are female and between the ages of 18 and 35. The large numbers of these two groups (being female and being young) are particularly concerning. Women who gamble are more likely to be escaping serious problems such as gender based violence or are distracting themselves from stress or loneliness. Youths on the other hand, are less likely to have fully developed brains (did you know that our brains don’t fully develop until we are 25?) and so are unable to make great decisions especially financial ones. They are however very tech savvy which allows them gamble in a variety of ways online without anyone knowing and online gambling is said to have the highest addictive potential.
Dangers of a Gambling Problem
People who develop a gambling addiction are more likely to
- Be alcohol or drug dependent and smoke
- Be extremely stressed which can lead to health conditions such as high blood pressure and health problems
- Have a mental health problem such as anxiety, depression
- Have suicidal thoughts and tendencies as well as commit suicide
- Have sleeping and eating disorders
- Have serious financial issues that can lead to loss of homes, employment or more
- Have troubled relationships with family and co-workers
Signs You or Your Loved One is Developing a Gambling Addiction
- You are constantly borrowing money
- You experience withdrawal symptoms when you are not gambling
- You continue gambling despite negative consequences like your spouse leaves you
- You are hiding or lying about gambling to your friends and family
- You have been unable to stop gambling and continue to think about gambling even when you are not gambling
- You are thinking about committing an illegal act to finance your gambling
The lack of treatment for people in Nigeria, as well as the shame still attached to those who suffer from a gambling problem is a huge barrier to getting the help a problem gambler might need. Therefore the easiest way to not develop a gambling problem is to not begin betting. If you are betting — setting a time and money limit — are helpful ways to reduce the possibility of developing a gambling problem. However, a decision today to stop gambling could very well be the best decision of your life.
