Key Moments:
- Charles Akhenamen has called for actionable reforms in Nigeria’s gambling sector, criticizing reliance on superficial responsible gambling warnings.
- Recent incidents, including two deaths linked to gambling losses this year, have highlighted the severe consequences of inadequate safeguards.
- The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority introduced SafePlay in August 2025, enabling single-click self-exclusion across licensed sites in the state.
Escalating Concerns Over Responsible Gambling
Gaming advocate Charles Akhenamen has intensified his campaign for responsible betting practices in Nigeria, emphasizing that standard disclaimers such as “18+ Only. Bet Responsibly” are no longer meaningful deterrents to gambling harm. Akhenamen stated:
“These warnings are a compliance checkbox, not a commitment. The consequences are devastating.”
Tragic Losses Reveal Depth of Crisis
Akhenamen drew attention to two tragic fatalities this year, both linked to gambling-related financial distress. He explained that Stephen Chidubem, a young resident of Abuja, took his own life in July after accumulating heavy debt from betting. Meanwhile, in Ogun State, a student also died by suicide after losing both his and his friend’s tuition funds to gambling.
For Akhenamen, these incidents underline the extent to which gambling has penetrated Nigerian society, exposing an urgent need for robust protective measures.
Advertising and Opaque Warnings
Despite more than 65 million active bettors in Nigeria—driven by widespread mobile access and high unemployment—responsible gambling messages remain overshadowed by flashy marketing campaigns featuring celebrities and sports stars. Furthermore, Akhenamen argued that although companies have technology to detect risky betting behavior, they mostly use it for marketing rather than player protection. He commented:
“They use analytics to send bonuses; the same tech can spot risky play and step in.”
He outlined four immediate steps for operators: verifying players’ ability to afford large wagers, watching for sudden loss patterns, requiring breaks after extended play periods, and sharing data on gambling harm with authorities.
Innovations in Lagos: SafePlay’s Role
Akhenamen singled out the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority’s SafePlay initiative as a notable advancement. In particular, he praised the system—launched in August 2025—for allowing users to self-exclude from all licensed platforms in Lagos with a single action.
Describing this development, Akhenamen called SafePlay “a real step toward responsibility” and highlighted its potential to advance both player safety and industry credibility.
The Push for National Reform
Akhenamen argued that isolated success in one state is insufficient to shield all players across the country. He called on the federal government to establish a unified national policy on player protection, cautioning that without comprehensive action, vulnerabilities will persist in other regions.
He warned that unless these reforms expand nationwide, “more families will face loss.” Therefore, he emphasized collaboration among operators, regulators, and civil society as essential to reducing gambling-related harm.
Responsibility as a Path to Leadership
Although Nigeria’s gaming industry continues to grow, Akhenamen warned that player safety efforts are not keeping pace. He asserted that the country now has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership by creating a responsible and transparent gambling environment that prioritizes consumer protection.
He closed his remarks by challenging both regulators and industry members to use existing technology, designed for marketing, to enhance player safety and save lives. The critical decision, according to Akhenamen, is whether the sector will take this step.
Overview of Proposed Operator Actions
| Measure | Description |
|---|---|
| Affordability Checks | Verify players can manage high-stake bets |
| Monitor Loss Patterns | Identify and respond to sudden increases in player losses |
| Enforced Breaks | Require time-outs after lengthy play sessions |
| Data Sharing | Provide gambling harm statistics to regulators for oversight |
- Author
Daniel Williams
