The House of Representatives has resolved to stop sports betting in the country and urged the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to comply with the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act of 2005.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers) at plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, weak or neglected regulations of sports betting have given rise to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and addiction.

Mr Nwogu added that it had also led to strain 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 parliament 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.

The legislators also mandated the Committee on Inter–Governmental Affairs to conduct a public hearing on the dangerous effects of sports betting in Nigeria.

It urged the committee to report to it for further legislative action within four weeks.

Data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending an average of $15 daily.

According to NLTF, Nigerians spend an estimated $975 million daily on online sports betting, about $356 billion annually.

(NAN)