Janet Ogundepo
Mental health experts have identified substance abuse, family history and early exposure to betting as some of the factors fuelling addictive gambling in Nigeria.
According to GambleAlert, a non-profit Nigerian organisation that advocates responsible gambling, the country is replete with what has been termed ludomania (gambling addiction), which is an urge to gamble continuously despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop.
The experts said gambling addiction affects people’s quality of life, causing them to fritter away money meant for feeding and other important things.
One of the experts, an addiction counsellor and Senior Program Manager of Substance Abuse Treatment at the Gracehill Behavioural Health Services, Oyewale Oloyede, told PUNCH Healthwise that these factors were noticeable traits in addicted individuals.
PUNCH Healthwise recently reported that the rise in addiction to betting applications and sites could lead to an increase in mental illnesses in the country.
Gambling, especially sports betting, has become more popular in Nigeria, in recent times, with the establishment of many sports betting companies. Many Nigerians, both young and old have now embraced sports betting.
A 2021 paper on the Overview of gambling in Nigeria by a Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer at the Imo State University, Owerri, Chinyere Aguocha et al, stated that about 57.2 per cent of school-age children have gambled at least once in their lifetime.
The paper added that despite the laws against underage gambling, 77.6 per cent of school-age children have gambled in the last three years and 58.3 per cent had unrestrained access to gambling sites and kiosks.
The need for more money amid the harsh economic situation was the reason some individuals went into the act.
Recently, a Social Media influencer, Reno Omokri, urged the President, Bola Tinubu to ban sports betting in the country, stating that the $1bn external revenue it generated daily was unfavourable to the value of the Naira.
On his part, Oloyede stated that several forms of gambling could begin as a form of recreation but gradually lead to addiction.
He said, “The reason for betting is because they don’t want to be broke.
The addiction begins when there is a persistent and uncontrollable urge despite the negative consequences. Ideally, persons who have gambled and lost money should refrain from the act but some people find it difficult to stop despite the negative experiences. This clearly shows when an addicted person would have to go and borrow money.”
He added that the lack of control over the frequency and amount of money to be spent reflected an addiction problem.
The addiction counsellor further noted that the symptoms of gambling addiction were the same as substance use, adding that betting was common among professional and non-professional workers.
Speaking on the risk factors for gambling addiction, Oloyede said, “One of the factors is genetics. If there is a family history of gambling, you are highly predisposed to being addicted to gambling.
“Just like substance use, if gambling runs in the family, the individual who ventures into gambling has a predisposition to be addicted to it. So, someone who gambles but does not have a family history of it may not be addicted to it, except there are other factors.
“Another factor is early exposure to gambling. Underage children, who have access to betting sites and kiosks are more likely to be addicted to betting than someone who starts as an adult. Peer pressure can also influence the act,” he said.
The addictive specialist also mentioned that substance use disorder further predisposes gamblers to addiction.
“If you watch closely, you will find out that most betting shops are close to a bar or have the presence of women selling sachet alcoholic drinks. So if the person wins, they go there to celebrate their win and if they lose, go there to cope with their loss. Also, to sustain the substance use habit, some people will decide to gamble to have more money. That is why those with substance use disorder also have a problem with gambling,” Oloyede said.
The addiction specialist also stated that continuous depression increases the risk of addiction to betting due to its use as a coping mechanism.
Oloyede added that gambling addiction impacted the mental health, economic status, self-esteem and relationships of the individuals addicted to it.
“This will have major impacts on our mental health ranging from sleep disorders. Gambling pushes people into debt because the individual is in debt, so the sleep pattern is interrupted or not able to initiate sleep and lack of sleep would make the individual cranky and moody. It can also affect the self-esteem of individuals and social withdrawal. Also, it can lead to anxiety and suicidal thoughts. This is a hidden addiction and people don’t talk about it, rather they go about dealing with it how best they can,” he said.
He added that the ease of access to the betting apps has facilitated impulsive betting and increased the rate of betting and its impact on the economy.
Oloyede advocated youth involvement in positive social activities to stem the tide of underage and youth addiction to gambling.
He called on adults to be positive role models to youths, adding that parents need to offer guidance and direction to their children on the impacts of their decisions.
The addiction counsellor advised addicted adults to seek professional help.
A psychiatrist, Dr Maymunah Kadiri said, “A mentally strained workforce is likely to witness decreased productivity, potentially affecting economic output.
“The intersection of betting app addiction and mental health is a complex terrain that demands attention. The potential for a mental health pandemic looms large, and proactive measures are essential.
“These may include raising awareness about responsible gambling, promoting accessible support systems, and dismantling the stigma associated with seeking help. The cost of inaction could translate into not only individual suffering but a societal challenge that necessitates collective intervention.”
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