Nigeria’s Thriving Gambling Industry: 60 Million Nigerians Gamble Daily, Says Director General
The Director General of Cross Rivers State Lottery and Gaming Agency, Michael Eja, has revealed that an estimated 60 million Nigerians engage in gambling daily. This staggering figure underscores the significant growth of the gambling industry in Nigeria, which is currently valued between N500 billion and N600 billion.
Eja made this statement at the launch of a new sports betting platform, Woskybet, in Abuja on Friday. According to him, the betting industry in Africa is worth approximately $1 billion, with Lagos state alone generating $243 million in revenue last year. This success has led to a surge in popularity, with people beginning to understand the essence of gambling.
In Nigeria, the agency is generating over N500 to N600 billion in revenue, with a population of over 150 million people. Statistics show that about 60 million Nigerians gamble daily, with a vast untapped market of over 90 percent.
Despite the industry’s success, Eja acknowledged that the Federal Government has expressed concerns over gambling centers failing to remit revenue to the treasury. However, he assured that the government is working hard to upgrade its platforms and bring all operators into the tax net of each state in Nigeria.
As the industry continues to grow, Eja is confident that the benefits of the gaming industry will become apparent. With the government’s efforts to regulate the industry, it is likely that Nigeria will see a significant increase in revenue generated from gambling in the coming years.
