Gambling addiction and mental health of undergraduates in South-west Nigeria: developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Gambling addiction, the proliferation of online sports betting platforms, and aggressive gambling advertisements targeting young people are growing concerns in Nigeria. This study investigates the relationship between gambling addiction and mental health among university undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. It examines the increasing prevalence of gambling addiction and its detrimental effects on young people, especially students. The study highlights how gambling advertisements, which normalize risky gambling behaviors, contribute to the rise in addiction. The study also explores the impact of online betting platforms, which, in conjunction with aggressive advertising, increase the likelihood of students developing compulsive gambling behaviors, leading to financial distress, psychological trauma, and academic underachievement. 982 respondents participated in the survey designed for this study, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and logistic regression, was used to analyze the data for the study. Findings reveal that students engaged in gambling are more likely to fall into compulsive gambling, which leads to financial distress, psychological trauma, and academic underachievement. The study suggests that the availability of online gambling platforms, along with aggressive advertisements, significantly increases gambling behaviors. To address these issues, This study recommends a Safe-Space Counseling Model (SCM) for Universities in South West Nigeria, and other institutions of higher learning This model will ensure university students can get confidential, anonymous, and easy access to support for gambling addiction or mental health issues. The findings of this study willproffer valuable steps for the development of prevention and intervention strategies, including educational campaigns, support programs, and responsible gambling policies.