NIGERIA- Policy think tank Nextier has called for stronger gambling regulation, enhanced player protection and expanded youth employment initiatives as Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone grapple with the rapid growth of betting, particularly in low-income communities.

The recommendations were published in the latest Nextier Policy Weekly, authored by Joshua Biem, senior policy and research analyst, and Olive Aniunoh, legal, policy and research consultant.

The report identified unemployment, underemployment, weak social protection and urban marginalisation as key factors contributing to gambling participation among young people. It noted that in communities with limited formal employment opportunities, betting can increasingly be viewed as a potential source of additional income.

Nextier also highlighted concerns around gambling-related debt and financial pressure, linking these challenges to broader issues of youth vulnerability and social instability. However, the authors stressed that available evidence does not establish a direct causal relationship between betting and criminality, noting that more detailed crime and geographic data would be required to determine such a connection.

The report estimated Nigeria’s gambling market at up to US$3.63bn in revenue in 2025, with more than 60 million Nigerians reportedly betting regularly. Ghana’s online gambling market recorded estimated gross wins of US$903.5m during the same period, while Sierra Leone continues to operate within a less developed regulatory framework.

Against this backdrop, Nextier urged governments to harmonise gambling regulations across the region to strengthen enforcement and close gaps that could be exploited by unlicensed operators.

The think tank also recommended mandatory, independently verified age and identity checks, as well as restrictions on the density and location of betting outlets in economically vulnerable communities.

It called for intelligence-led monitoring of betting clusters where there is documented evidence of debt-related theft, fraud or cultism. Regulators, law enforcement agencies and financial intelligence units should strengthen information-sharing arrangements to identify and respond to emerging risks, the report said.

Beyond gambling regulation, Nextier urged development organisations and civil society groups to expand livelihood programmes, vocational training and financial literacy initiatives in slums and peri-urban communities.

According to the report, addressing the economic conditions that encourage young people to view gambling as an alternative source of income is as important as regulating gambling itself.

For operators, Nextier recommended stronger responsible gambling measures, including self-exclusion systems, spending limits and advertising standards aimed at preventing campaigns from targeting economically vulnerable young people.

The authors also pointed to Ghana’s emerging advertising-vetting approach as a potential model for strengthening responsible gambling advertising practices.

Nextier concluded that gambling should be addressed as part of a broader policy response to youth unemployment, economic insecurity and weak social protection. It called for greater collaboration between regulators, operators, law enforcement agencies and development organisations to reduce gambling-related risks while addressing the socioeconomic pressures driving participation.