Responsible Gambling in Nigeria: Safety and Advice

You must stay calm and play responsibly to keep gambling entertaining and not stress-inducing. Match.Center team believes that bringing a clear and transparent view of each gaming aspect is important to help punters with this task. Your safety and convenience is our top priority and we have several initiatives in place to support this.

Today’s gamblers face many risks, whether they have a problem or not. We have a specific scoring system and developed a player-based community to provide a safer environment on our terms. Below you can seek Nigerian responsible gaming principles and tools available at licensed local operators that help you keep control. We also listed the assistance-providing websites where you can receive counselling and professional advice concerning problematic behaviour.

Why We Support Responsible Play

There are no exceptions for addiction on whom to affect. You might be perfectly healthy mentally and physically, but fall victim to constant exposure and lure yourself into the pit of constant gambling itch. Keep in mind that this harms both the player and those around him/her as well. From families to friend groups and workmates – everything is subject to be ruined due to the excessive use of gambling products. Below, we listed some of the potential damage that addiction can cause:

Financial Difficulties. Uncontrollably dumping funds into a betting site can cause immediate economic struggle. Problem gamblers often face debt or bankruptcy due to inability to pay the bills.
Problems at Work. Persistent pressure and stress in a game can cause a significant decline in performance and ultimately lead to you losing your job.
Widespread Concern. Based on governmental research, the problem of gambling addiction is growing in Nigeria, and at the moment, over 10-15% of adults are at risk of developing problematic behaviour.
Family Issues. Lost stakes, fund shortages and other problems stemming from the constant gambling will turn you and your family against each other. Distancing, depression, divorces, etc. are common in problematic player’s households.

How Can We Gamble Responsibly?

The Nigerian government keeps a close eye on the local gambling industry. Concerns are pushing them to accept new laws, make stricter rules and maintain constant control over the development of online betting. Local sportsbooks must be approved by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC). In the state of Lagos, an additional licence is required from the local State Lotteries Board (LSLB). Operators approved by these entities are trusted and meet the standards of providing a safe environment for players.

Sportsbooks are required to renew their licence on an ongoing basis. Otherwise, they will lose their legality in the region and be forced out. This is to ensure that sites are not only implementing the latest security protocols and other player protection systems but are also keeping up with updated laws and regulations. Nowadays, laws are on the punter’s side, pushing the platforms to provide more clarity on the risks of addiction and tools to help cope with it.

Here are the steps to take to play responsibly:

Limit the money you are willing to top-up with. Have a good budget allocation and manage your expenses in a way where gambling is the last instance of receiving funds from your wallet.
Each bet should be viewed as a loss, no matter the odds. This mindset will help you cope with failed bets.
Avoid using credit money or lending funds to make a bet. This is a one-way ticket towards economic chaos.
Never make a stake under an influence or when out of shape, both physically and mentally. This will affect your decision-making and is exceptionally risky.
Ensure to have balance in life. Gambling should not overcome family, friends and work when it comes to your spare time. Everything is good in moderation
Avoid counting on gaming as a primary income source. Not stress and pressure, but fun and joy.

How to Spot Addiction

It is tough to spot addiction, let alone figure out for yourself that you are developing one. Most of the time, problematic behaviour forces you to go into complete denial that you are addicted. While family and friends could help, these are not always around. However, it is not difficult to take simple precautions to avoid this.

Here’s what to look after when trying to figure out if you are developing a potential habit:

Evaluate Your Losses. Keep track of how much you wager over set time. It is easily accessible through your bet history. The amounts should not affect your everyday life. Whether it is a mortgage you have to pay or college tuition – if you figure that you overspent on gambling when needed money elsewhere – drop it, at least for the time being.
Take a Break. Gambling is a perfect example of how much good regular timeouts can do. This not only gives you some time to think over your actions, but it also helps maintain concentration and a fresh view of betting in general.
Avoid Emotional Betting. Any deviations from your typical conditions can impact your game a lot. Staking when being down, under the influence of alcohol or being stressed will cause losses. This will lead towards an even worse emotional state.
Bonus Hunting. Registration rewards, loyalty programmes, and event-specific Free Bets can all look lucrative enough to top-up more funds and play. Typically, this is one of the most overlooked indicators of addiction. The more you crave “free rewards” and “competing in promotions”, the more you stay in the loop of constant gaming.

Where to Get Help

When you are struggling with problematic behaviour, help is the only way out in most cases. If you realise that rational thoughts are less responsive than the craving for another wager, hurry up and get professional support. The faster you decide to ask for assistance – the easier your battle will be. Here’s where Nigerian punters can receive help and advice:

Child Help Line. While the name might not seem relevant to the cause, this service helps locals in various struggles. You can visit their site or contact them on the phone at 0808-0551-376.
Gamble Alert. Here, you can either chat with the professionals over the web or contact them through various other means. They are located in Lagos and offer help aimed directly towards problem punters. They provide counselling, rehabilitation and full support throughout the recovery process.

Responsible Playing Tools

Betting websites also have a lot of different measures for you to help avoid addiction. Some of the operators even ask for consent or precariously notify you that they are overlooking the wagers you make to help indicate a possible addiction. Here’s what’s available:

Limit-Setting Tools. You can set a cap for the maximum sum of money that you’ll be able to top up or wager in a set time. This helps you avoid irrational spending.
Payment Blocking. Contact your bank and ask them to block all transactions with bookmakers. You can remove this restriction whenever you feel the time is right and you are back in full control.
Reality Check Notifications. Bookmakers tend to notify you when the playtime exceeds the norm. Do not ignore them. Take breaks whenever they appear, or even better, try to get ahead of them and manage your time so that you do not get them.
Self-Exclusion Programmes. Once you realise that you are no longer in control – this is the way to go. Completely restrict yourself from any gambling activity until further notice.

Restriction of Gambling for Minors

In Nigeria, Section 34 of the National Lottery Act 2005 stipulates that it is illegal for the underage to be involved in betting. The legal age for online betting and sportsbook activities in general is set at 18. Casinos, including mobile casino sites, and public betting houses – 21. However, law enforcement seems to be lenient, and therefore, the problem of minors participating in such activities arises more and more.

As a parent, you might want to take the matter into your own hands and protect the child from constant exposure to gaming. Set limits on the allowed internet time. Download and install advertisement blockers to remove the flashy sidebar promotional materials on websites. Set up a list of blocked websites to remove access to gambling platforms. Also, look after which mobile and computer games your kid is playing. Loot boxes and “packs” in games are practically the worst gambling advertisement there is. The “gacha” system implies that the children pull characters or cosmetics in games with little to no chance of acquiring those. Technically, this is a roulette with a pseudo-guarantee. Such games might become the first step for a child to become addicted to the adrenaline of gambling something to receive an “X” incentive.