Economic Recession: Nigerians recourse to sport betting, lottery

Many adults and students alike have resorted to football betting as a way of surviving the current economic recession in the country.

National Daily observed this on Wednesday when her correspondents visited different betting centres in Ikeja, Lagos State capital.

Both unemployed and employed workers have embraced various kinds of betting as an alternative to survive.

A merchant, Mr. Dayo Agbaje , told said that he was surviving on football betting as things get tougher every day.

“I am not a gambler, but the situation in the country has forced me to it now, as there is no alternative at the moment,” he said.

A fashion designer, Mr. Shehu Quadri, said he had been trying his luck to win a bet to cater for his family’s needs, as his business was no longer thriving.

“Man has to explore all means of survival and I think the best way for this present situation is to gamble. I will not steal to survive, as the situation at hand demands alternative means,” he said.

Kingsley Oguntunde of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, said betting had been of help to him to sustain his academic pursuit.

Oguntunde said his parents could no longer cater for his education, a situation that forced him to resort to betting as an alternative.

“I am a very lucky person because I always win bets. I use the money I get from betting to pay my tuition, as there is no one to assist me, except my parents,” Oguntunde said.

Mr. Adebisi Olanrewaju, one of the Managers of Bet9ja in Computer Village Area of Ikeja , confirmed that his betting business was witnessing high patronage.

“We see pastors, bankers, teachers, students and even girls coming to play bet as an alternative for livelihood,” he said.

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Mr. Akinwunmi Itiola, the Manager at Bet 360, Oluyole Area of Ikeja, said customers were coming in large numbers to try their luck.

“I am shocked at the high rate of patronage these days. This centre is always overcrowded that you hardly see space to place your legs,” he said.

National Daily reports that various betting houses abound, and they include Bet9ja, Naira Bet, Bet 360, Sure Bet, UBC, Merry Bet, 1960 Bet, Bet 1X2, Bet Wazobia among others