THE Federal House of Representatives has made a move to stop sports betting in the country while urging the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to comply with the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act of 2005.
According to media reports, the resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers) at a plenary in Abuja.
According to him, weak or neglected regulations of sports betting have given rise to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and addiction.
Nwogu added that it had also led to 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.
“Betting has given rise to increased crime rate and eventual suicide,” he said.
He harped on the need for campaigns to prevent the negative social impact of lottery and underage participation.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to conduct a comprehensive nationwide campaign to raise public awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting.
It urged the committee to report back to it within four weeks for further legislative action.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 engage in sports betting.
