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AN ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SPORTS BETTING AFFECTING YOUTHS IN RIVERS STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
The rise in legalized gambling opportunities worldwide has led to a significant increase in gambling participation in many countries, including Nigeria. Various forms of gambling include sports betting, casino games, poker, and lotteries. Online sports betting, in particular, has gained significant prominence in Africa. As noted by Hing et al. (2019), sports betting is expanding globally through increased turnover in existing markets and expansion into new ones as legislation becomes more permissive. Sports betting is a popular gambling activity where individuals predict sporting results and place wagers on the outcomes, hoping to win a predetermined prize (National Lottery Act 2015). The more matches an individual predicts correctly, the higher the potential payout at the end of the event. The internet and social media platforms have made sports betting and other forms of gambling more “ubiquitous and socially acceptable” among young people. Many adolescents now view gambling, smoking, and drinking as rites of passage into adulthood. Reports indicate that young male sports fans use sports betting as a form of social and group bonding (e.g., Deans et al. 2016).
In Africa, the sports betting market has grown rapidly over the past decade. Due to a lack of scientific data, there is considerable debate about the extent to which university students engage in online sports betting. However, current estimates suggest that between 57-76% of Kenyans have participated in gambling (Geopoll, 2017; 2019), with 29% of gamblers being students (Wangari, 2018). Youths with post-secondary education make up the majority of Kenyans involved in gambling. According to Mwadime (2017), most gamblers in Kenya are under 40, while Koross (2016) reports that over 78% of university students in Kenya gamble at least once a week. University students are especially vulnerable to gambling disorders compared to the general population (Hing et al., 2016). Studies on gambling in Kenya have been conducted among the general population and provide estimates of gambling frequency.
In Nigeria, the most popular sports betting platforms include Naira Bet, Bet9ja, Sure Bet, Winners Golden Bet, 1960 Bet, Merry Bet, Bet Colony, and Stakers Den. Foreign betting platforms include Bet 360, Bet 365, 1x Bet, 24H Bet, 368 Bet, Apollo Bet, and Bet-at-Home. These betting companies typically offer platforms for users to predict the outcomes of various sports and events, such as football, basketball, car racing, hockey, dog racing, and virtual games. Correct predictions are rewarded, while incorrect ones result in financial losses. This trend is becoming increasingly common in Nigeria, as dedicated fans demonstrate their expertise by betting on their understanding of football (Jamiu, 2019).
The growing interest and participation of youth in sports betting is alarming and has led to widespread concern among parents and society at large (Sanga, 2017). While gambling may offer occasional excitement and relief from boredom for casual gamblers, it can have severe consequences for compulsive gamblers. Compulsive gambling affects individuals psychologically and financially and leads to social issues such as crime and decreased productivity, making it a public health concern. The adverse effects of compulsive gambling on psychological well-being have sparked interest among mental health professionals in diagnosing and treating this condition. The American Psychiatric Association (2013) classifies compulsive gambling as a Gambling Disorder. Moreover, sports betting among young adults has become a significant concern for parents and others, as students often use their school fees and pocket money to place bets, hoping for financial gains. They believe that the riskier the game, the greater the reward, which can negatively impact their future plans. Although many university students are known to gamble, the psychological factors associated with sports betting among youth remain unclear, particularly concerning disordered gambling. This study aims to analyze the psychological factors associated with sports betting affecting youths in Rivers State.
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- Statement of the Problem
Gambling has become an activity that most Nigerian youths and adolescents engaged in, with accessibility due to available internet. Evidence suggests that problem and non-problem gamblers have similar motivations to gamble but the motivational strength differs for problem gamblers. In particular, winning money (chasing losses) and relieving tension, stress and emotional distress are implicated in promoting continued gambling (Abbott 2017). However, there are many reasons why people gamble. These may be broadly classified under two non-mutually exclusive types of motivation: the desire for positively reinforcing subjective excitement and arousal; and the desire for the negatively reinforcing relief or escape from stress or negative emotional states. Both social and monetary reward expediencies facilitate gambling.
Conversely, Jacobs, pointed that psychological factors that may lead to sport betting may include sensation-seeking, temperament, self-esteem and peer pressure among others. Whereas protective factors against risk-taking may include a high level of self-esteem and an orientation toward an internal locus of control. In contrast, youth who may be characterized by high levels of sensation-seeking and impulsivity appear to be more vulnerable to engaging in risky behaviours like sport betting. News Agency of Nigeria (Vanguardngr.com 2014) reported that about 60 million Nigerians spend up to N1.8 billion on sports betting daily with an average bet of #3000 per day. Indeed, some young people in some African cities perceived gambling as an acceptable activity and alternative source of livelihood toward which they would rather devote substantial time and energies (Ahaibwe et al. 2016). Oyeleke et al. (2017) reported that 78% of sports bettors in Ibadan, Nigeria have been gambling for at least 6 months and on the average usually spent more than 2 h at the bet parlors each time they gamble. Furthermore, more than half (53%) of bettors in Nigeria bet every day (NOIPoll 2017).
As opposed to the burgeoning literature exploring gambling in Western nations (Abbott 2017; Calado and Grifths 2016), there is a paucity of research on gambling behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ssewanyana and Bitanihirwe 2018). Many of the existing studies on gambling and sports betting in Nigeria have investigated a relatively limited set of psychosocial factors (Oyeleke et al. 2017; Oyebisi et al. 2012). This present study is aimed at flling the gap in the literature by simultaneously examining how psychological factors, peer-based gambling, and sports betting knowledge may interact with one another to shape young adults’ attitudes toward sports betting.
1.3 Objective of the Study
This study is focused on an analysis of the psychological factors associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State. The study specifically, seeks to:
- Determine the prevalence of youth engagement in fsports betting among Nigerian.
- Find out if knowledge about sports betting processes is associated with pschological factors associated affecting youths in Rivers State.
- Investigate whether thought of sport gambling as an alternative source of livelihood is associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State,
- Ascertain if low self esteem and lack of self-control is associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State,
1.4 Research Question
- What is the prevalence of youth engagement in sports betting among Nigerian.?
- Does knowledge about sports betting processes is associated with psychological factors associated affecting youths in Rivers State?
- Does thought of sport gambling as an alternative source of livelihood is associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State?
- Does low self esteem and lack of self-control is associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
Ho: There are no psychological factors associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State.
Hi: There are psychological factors associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State.
1.6 Significance of the study
Findings of this study will be useful to Parents, educators, gambling regulatory bodies, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, and NGOs.To Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, and NGOs , the result of the study will encourage them on the need to design appropriate programs to educate youths that sports betting is not a viable source of income, and that deviant friends can lead one into irresponsible betting.
Furthermore, the study results will help parents and other family members refrain from modelling behaviors that will endanger the future of younger members of the family. Gambling regulatory bodies through the findings of the study will be able develop appropriate plans to filter access to sport betting apps and sites as well as to regulate online betting practices and formulate socially responsible betting policies.
Empirically the study will add to the general body of knowledge and serve as a reference material to scholars and student who wishes to conduct further studies on related field.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The scope of this study borders on the psychological factors associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State. The further discusses how knowledge of sports betting processes is associated with psychological factors associated affecting youths in Rivers State, find out if thought if sport gambling as an alternative source of livelihood and low self esteem and lack of self-control is associated with sport betting affecting youths in Rivers State.
1.8 Limitation of the Study
Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the subject owing that it is a new discourse thus the researcher incurred more financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. Additionally, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. However in spite of the constraint all these constraint were downplayed to give the best.