AN ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ON SPORT GAMBLING ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Gambling addiction is more common in youths. University students are an especially susceptible group that is not immune to this condition that goes unnoticed. Many students usually have free time, money, freedom, and interest to play different gambling games such as football betting as they wish. According to research, 6–8% of undergraduates worldwide suffer from a serious gambling issue (Koross 2016).

However, the problem of gambling is thought to have a diverse effect such as crime, interfering with academic work, relationship, and affect future work prospects (Derevensky and Gubta 2017). Gambling is putting things, like money, at risk in the hopes of earning something more valuable. But losing money and wasting time is the biggest problem with gambling as a high-risk hobby. Resources, money, and property have all been wasted as a result of gambling.

Gamblers have even risked their live and valuables for the enjoyment of playing gambling games. According to Dickerson (2015), asserts that compulsive gamblers spend thirteen to fifteen hours in a day gambling. Also, Kinetics (2016) puts it, gambling is associated with addiction; corruption and other negative aspects such as diminution of the work ethics.

Furthermore, gambling is the practice of playing games of choice for a stake (Elliot, 2018). It can also be described as taking part in a game during which youth risk money, or something of monetary value, in order to win money or a prize.On the other hand, betting especially sports betting, has become a very popular form of entertainment globally (Maloba, 2018). Scholars and experts believe that the entire sports betting market is worth hundred billions of dollars with no sign of slowing growth any time soon.

In Nigeria, the official start of legalized gambling industry came from the National Lottery Act 2005. However, various patterns of gambling has emerged which has sort of accommodated differences in social class. These include but not limited to wagering and betting on the outcome of sporting event or race (football betting, car racing, horse racing, wrestling, basketball, swimming on platforms such as Bet9ja, Naira Bet, Merry Bet, Sure Bet, Sahara Bet, Betpawa Bet, Ebony Bet), virtual games (Bingo, Babynseju, Ajasare), Casino games (kalokalo) and Lottery style games such as Cross-Lotto, Pools (Baba Ijebu), tickets and keno, all of which award prizes based on the selection of winning symbol or number combinations.

The aforementioned sporting event and games can be waged and bet on both offline and online. However, the newest and fastest growing is the online form of gambling. According to Enwereuzor Ibeawuchi, Leonard Ugwu and Dorothy Ugwu (2016), the usage of smart phones makes it easier for many youths to accessed online gambling sites. Also, Stewart (2021) reported that nearly 3,000 internet gambling sites offer wagering on sports, casino games, poker, bingo, lottery and other games.

Additionally, South Africa currently holds the most casinos on the continent with 38 legally operating casinos and their various outlets and other gaming centres in Nigeria (Clark, Averbeck, Payer, Sescousse, Winstanley, and Xue, 2020). On the other hand, individual differences in personality are likely to play an important role in explaining the propensity to gamble. One of the potential roadblocks to elucidating the relation between personality and gambling may be inadequately accounting for the diversity of gambling activities.

The youth especially university students have not been left behind in betting, and at times they do it at the expense of education. Some students have not done their exams to the extent that some fail to continue with university education because they used the money that was meant for the fee to bet and lost. A good example is the report from Uganda where a total of 55 students of MBI University missed their graduation after betting their tuition fee (Sunday Vision 2018). The consequences linked to gambling-related harm have now reached a level comparable to the adverse effects of alcohol abuse and major depression. This shift in perspective is significant, as academic research has historically concentrated on the harms associated with problem or pathological gambling. Recent research suggests that harm stemming from sports betting can also manifest in individuals who engage in low or moderate levels of gambling.

Additionally, It is from this trend of students losing a life, being extravagant in using money and seeking other uncouth means to acquire money for continuous gambling and engaging in other criminal activities that a survey will be conducted on an assessment of knowledge and perception of university students on sport gambling activities in Nigeria

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Gambling is an important activity that is very common among the youth and serves as leisure activities which are common throughout the world.It is important to note that the number of young people and even students visiting betting centers is rising alarmingly every day (Adelabu, 2019). They converse and watch the matches for a respectable amount of hours. Much time and effort is wasted on talking about games and other activities that may be used for learning and research..

Notable is also the fact that they bet with the small amount of money intended for handout purchase. Both the state's economy and its academic achievement are directly impacted by this. Additionally, there is a perception among some students that sports betting offers a chance for financial gain. The possibility of winning money serves as a motivator, especially for those who see it as an opportunity to supplement their income.

However, the establishment of football viewing centres has cause many students to abandon a relative number of hours for betting and watching games in order to bet. These activities have caused a sharp decline in academic performance especially among students in universities.

It is in the light of these that the study seeks to assessment of knowledge and perception of university students on sport gambling activities in Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is on an assessment of knowledge and perception of university students on sport gambling activities in Nigeria. Specifically, the study will;

1. Assess the knowledge of university students on the factors associated with sport gambling in Nigeria.

2. Assess the perception of university students on the implications of sport gambling in Nigeria.

3. Assess the perception of university students on the academic effect of sport gambling in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

1. What is the level of knowledge among university students regarding the factors associated with sports gambling in Nigeria?

2. How do university students perceive the implications of sports gambling in Nigeria?

3. What is the perception of university students regarding the academic effects of sports gambling in Nigeria?

1.5 Significant of the Study

An assessment of knowledge and perception of university students on sport gambling activities in Nigeria will be revealed to the government at various levels, stakeholders involved in education policies, teachers, school management, media houses and students in this study. It will additionally enlighten students of the risk factors involve in being addicted gambling and also enable stakeholders involved in education policies and school management to control internet usage hours and impose rules prohibiting students from using phones in class, which could interfere with their ability to learn.

Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to an assessment of knowledge and perception of university students on sport gambling activities in Nigeria.

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on an assessment of knowledge and perception of university students on sport gambling activities in Nigeria. Theoretically, this study will assess the knowledge of university students on the factors associated with sport gambling, assess the perception of university students on the implications of sport gambling and assess the perception of university students on the academic effect of sport gambling.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to undergraduates of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed.

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Gambling: an activity that involves any betting or wagering, for self or others, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or depends on chance or skill (Gamblers Anonymous, 2020; McCormick & Cohen, 2017)

Perception: refers to a widely held belief or opinion, often derived from how things appear. It is the information gathered from a public opinion survey, as noted by Anderson in 2022.

Betting: an activity that involves any betting or wagering, for self or others, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or depends on chance .

Students: a person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education.

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