60 million Nigerians bet daily – Lottery agency

The Director-General of the Cross River State Lottery Gaming Agency, Michael Eja, has revealed that about 60 million Nigerians engage in betting activities daily.

He also said Nigeria’s gaming industry is presently generating around N500-N600 billion yearly.

Eja, who disclosed this during the unveiling of Woskybet company yesterday in Abuja, said the Federal Government is taking steps with state lottery agencies to bring the gaming industry’s operators into the tax net for more revenue.

According to him, the betting industry in Africa is now worth a staggering $1 billion, adding that Lagos State accounted for a significant chunk of this revenue, generating $243 million in 2023 alone.

He said: “People are beginning to understand the essence of gambling as the gaming industry sells hope and helps in wealth redistribution, creation of jobs, and revenue generation.

“The government at various levels is doing its best in upgrading their platforms and working very hard to ensure that all operators are brought to the tax net.

“Over time, you are going to see improvement in the revenue that the gambling industry will generate towards nation-building. In Nigeria presently, we are doing about N500 billion to N600 billion yearly.

“Nigeria has a population of about 150 million people, and presently from the statistics we have, we know that about 60 million Nigerians gamble on a daily basis. Do the mathematics. We have not even captured 90 per cent of that market.”

On his part, Director of Operations Interim Woskybet, Nurudeen Idrees, said the gaming industry is contributing towards job creation for youths in the country.

“We are unique, which makes us stand out in public in terms of completeness with other companies.

“In terms of payment, I want to reassure our customers and the general public around the country that they should feel free when they win because their money is guaranteed 100 percent, as their wins are their rights.”

According to him, gambling is a game of luck, saying, “You either lose or win, and everything is about taking risks if you want to move forward as players among others.

“Woskybet offers an unparalleled betting experience, featuring competitive odds and generous bonuses, extensive coverage of international and local sports events, real-time score updates and live betting, secure payment systems and instant payouts, and dedicated customer support.

“We are committed to providing a safe, secure, and thrilling betting experience for Nigerian sports enthusiasts.”