SPORTS BETTING AS A MAJOR GAMING IN THE CONTEMPORARY GAMBLING INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA: EXAMPLE OF WUKARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE

Sports betting have a long and interesting history in Nigeria, dating back to the pre-colonial era. However, it wasn’t until the 21st century that sports betting became a popular pastime in the country. This paper seeks to examine sports betting as a major gaming in the contemporary gambling industry in Nigeria with a focus on Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. It conceptualizes sports betting and appraises the motives for the increased sports betting in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. It analyzes the level of sports betting and the socio-economic impact of sports betting in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. The study relied on both primary sources like oral interviews, archival materials and secondary sources like books, theses, articles, newspapers, journals, etc. The study observes that two main reason accounts for the prevalence of sports betting in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. They are; the widespread availability of smartphones and the internet and two high rates of unemployment and peer pressure. The study demonstrates that despite controversies on the gains and benefits of sports betting in Nigeria, the great improvement in the number of betting companies operating in Nigeria (in our case, Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State) has created more employment. Aside from employing Nigerians in their offices, betting companies create jobs by inviting people to become agents and own physical outlets. The study also found that these outlets have become very prevalent in Nigeria, and have provided a good source of income for their owners. The shop owners also have their own employees, who earn their small share from the sports betting jackpot. The study concludes the controversy of whether sports betting in Nigeria is harmful or harmless to Nigerians remains a matter to be debated.