Gamble Aware Nigeria highlights need for safer fintech gambling practices
Foundation calls for stronger player protections as mobile payment apps increasingly link users to betting platforms.
Nigeria.- Gamble Aware Nigeria has raised the alarm over the growing role of fintech apps in promoting gambling, warning that users are increasingly being funnelled toward betting platforms through push notifications and unregulated links.
The organisation, which advocates for responsible gambling, insists it is “not anti-gambling” but is calling for stronger protections for players. “Fintechs have turned into extensions of gambling operators and no one is saying a word,” said Gamble Aware Nigeria General Manager, Gabriel Akpabio, according to iGB.
Akpabio slammed operators over the “unethical representation of responsible gaming policies through fintech brands”. He cited examples of apps like Opay Digital Services Limited, one of Nigeria’s most popular mobile payment solutions, which he claims is redirecting users to gambling sites without regulatory approval.
Regulatory gaps highlighted in fintech betting
Palmpay, another widely used fintech platform, faces similar scrutiny. Both apps, while licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, are not authorised to provide or advertise gambling. Yet each hosts more than 30 igaming providers on their platforms.
Akpabio said: “Last week, a bettor sent us a screenshot of over 11 messages received in just a minute, asking him to fund his betting account, prompting him to click on an ad to get a free bet. Another ad read: If you deposit in your betting account daily, you stand a chance to win an iPhone.”
He also highlighted the broader regulatory gap that is allowing the problem to grow. “Over 60 million Nigerians are gamblers, and more than 14% of that number are actually struggling with the addiction that comes with it. We handle cases of underage gamblers a lot, and when you try to ascertain how they got introduced to this, the answer is always the same – through these fintech apps.”
As the market continues to expand, Gamble Aware Nigeria is urging both operators and fintech platforms to work together to ensure safer, more responsible gambling experiences for all users.
