GamblePause targets underage gambling with new campaign
According to recent gambling research, about 57.2% of Nigerian school-age children have gambled at least once in their lifetime.
Nigeria.- The GamblePause Initiative Africa has launched a targeted awareness campaign to educate minors and their families about the risks associated with underage gambling.
Titled ‘Say No to Underage Gambling’, the campaign aims to inform and empower parents, teachers and community leaders about the potential risks and long-term consequences of early exposure to gambling.
The initiative examines the psychological, financial and social consequences of minor gambling and sheds light on how early intervention can prevent the damage.
GamblePause Initiative Africa has implemented several activities to raise awareness about the campaign among young people and their guardians. These include school visits, community outreach and social media presentations.
Students are taught about the dangers of underage gambling through school awareness programs, interactive discussions and testimonies from problem gamblers who have overcome their addictions.
The organisers also equip parents with resources and tools to identify and prevent gambling behaviours in their children.
Rise of Underage Gaming in Nigeria
According to recent gambling research in Nigeria, about 57.2% of school-age children have gambled at least once in their lifetime. 77.6% of these have gambled in the past year, while 58.3% of these children reported having easy access to gambling venues.
The increased availability of online and mobile betting platforms has also created an environment where minors can easily access gambling activities.
GamblePause Initiative Africa claims that its campaign will play a crucial role in preventing early addiction, which is often linked to poor academic performance and financial difficulties. The organisation plans to capitalise on the campaign’s momentum to launch more efforts focused on addressing the issue of minor gaming across Nigeria and Africa.
The campaign coincides with another NGO’s measure to combat underage betting in Nigeria. A summit by GamSafe Initiative is scheduled for June 19 at the Velodrome National Stadium in Abuja, where experts will share insights and best practices for addressing this issue.
