Exclusive: Nigerians react as Brazil bans gambling sites

Nigerians are calling for similar action in their country after Brazilian authorities shut down over 2,000 betting sites on Friday.

The move aims to regulate online gambling, which has become a “pandemic” in Latin America’s largest economy. Brazil’s Finance Minister, Fernando Haddad, has expressed concerns about the unregulated industry.

Brazil legalized sports betting in 2018, but the sector has operated with minimal rules and taxes since then.

Popular sites, including those sponsoring top football clubs like Corinthians, have been closed.

Brazilians have become increasingly addicted to games like Aviator and Fortune Tiger.

In response to the development in the Latin American nation, Nigerians took to social media to urge their government to follow Brazil’s lead.

“They need to do this in Nigeria. Very important and urgent,” one netizen pleaded.

Bammy Dele also commented “All this betting platform is another medium devil is using to waste the life of our able men…Many youths has gambled away their future.”

Others expressed skepticism, citing alleged ties between politicians and sports betting companies. “Most people don’t know that our politicians are major investors in sports betting companies in Nigeria,” Sodiq Wahab commented. “So, there’s no way the same government would cancel sports betting in the country.”