UNDERSTANDING THE PREVALENCE OF GAMBLING IN NIGERIA: A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION.

Background: There has been an increase in gambling or betting in the population, increasing the risk of gambling-related disorders. There is insufficient knowledge about the extent and determinants of this problem across Nigeria.

Objective: To assess the prevalence, pattern, and sociodemographic correlates of gambling behaviour across different geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Methods: Nigerian citizens of diverse age groups were conveniently sampled from the North-Central, South-East, South-South and South-West geopolitical zones of the country. A self-paced, pre-tested gambling questionnaire designed for the study was used to collect relevant data.

Results: 310 Nigerians were included in this study and were mostly between the ages of 18 to 27 (44.2%) years. The study revealed a high prevalence (40.3%) of gambling behaviours among the participants. Among those engaged in gambling, "Bet9ja" emerged as the predominant platform. The desire to 'make money' was the most prevalent driver of gambling among participants (62.4%). A significant association was seen between respondents' knowledge and perceptions of gambling and their propensity to gamble (p < 0.001). Various sociodemographic factors (sex, marital status, socioeconomic status, and geopolitical zone) were also significantly associated with gambling.

Conclusions: The study shows the notable prevalence of gambling in Nigeria and highlights its associations with sociodemographic factors, perceptions, and patterns of gambling which should be considered in strategies to mitigate gambling-related problems. This research bridges gaps by incorporating data from diverse geopolitical zones, providing a more representative population study.