Betting and gambling

Articles on betting and gambling problems in Nigeria: the warning signs, how to stop, what to do about debt and how to support a partner who bets. They're for anyone whose betting has stopped being fun, and for the people closest to them.

Betting is everywhere in Nigeria: on phones, in shops and on football shirts. The betting shop used to close, but the app never does, and it's funded in seconds from the same account that pays your rent. The World Health Organization recognises gambling disorder as a health condition, and chasing losses is one of its key signs. Nigeria has no dedicated public gambling service, but self-exclusion, blocking apps, therapists and hospital addiction clinics can all help. In Lagos, the SafePlay register excludes you from every licensed operator at once.

Start with when betting stops being fun and how to stop betting. If losses have left you owing money, read what to do about betting debt.

Talking therapy, especially CBT, has the strongest evidence for gambling problems. You can find licensed therapists who work with addiction on Mytherapist.ng. If it all feels like too much, our helplines page lists free lines you can call today.