LOTTERY BUSINESS IN NIGERIA: A CURSE OR A BLESSING




In brief, lottery is a regulated cum legalised gaming scheme which involves the drawing of numbers for a particular prize.
However, a couple of governments outlaw lotteries, although some others endorses it. Some even organise national and state lotteries. Some of these lotteries in Nigeria are baba ijebu also known as premier Lotto, golden chance lotto, western lotto, etc.

It's widely known that gambling, betting, et all usually involve relatively high stakes, however, lottery is a betting usually mainly for entertainment & involves a stake of as low as #20 to say #100 – depending on the amount of rewards you want.

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We cannot however say that gambling only benefits those directly involved, because the proceeds of regulated lotteries has however, being implemented of late by many countries such as Nigeria, for several developmental purposes.


Dating back into the 20 BC when barbarians China, thus making them run out of funds to build their defence, lottery however came to the rescue! – they ran lottery in order to raise enough funds – a product is the wall of China; one of the seven wonders of world.

Lotteries in the colonial America had, and is still playing a significant role in financing both private and public ventures of their society. It has also been recorded, that more than 200 lotteries were sanctioned between 1745 & 1778, and as in turn played major roles in financing several projects such as Churches, roads, libraries, canals bridges, etc... Even universities!

Using South Africa also as an instance, stats have it that 82% of their population indulges in lottery once in a week – in 2012 alone, lottery funds shared to the country's finance was about N141.3 billion.

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Also, in Niger Republic, the funds gotten from lottery were used in executing several projects; boreholes, roads, etc as well as also used in fighting against desert encroachment, and also sponsoring several people to Mecca to perform the holy pilgrimage.

Acknowledging all this goodies gotten by other enviable countries from lottery, and also wanting to emulate them, the Nigerian Government established the National Lottery Regulatory Commission [NLRC] via the National Lottery Act of 2000.

Section 57 of the act states that "Lottery or lotteries" includes any game, agreement, scheme, plan, system, promotional competition or device which is established for the distribution of prizes by lot of probability or as a result of exercising skills and chances based on the outcome of sporting events or any other game, scheme, agreement, plan, competition, system or device.

Since its establishment, the commission has successfully issues licences and permits to several lottery operators and promoters in order to ensure the growth of the market, and also bring it closer to people. Thus, with this, lottery has started gaining wide acceptance and followership across the country.

This has also simultaneously opened up several market opportunities for investors, individuals, and government in the country. Lottery has opened up business opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs – especially the youths – serving as either agents, or as workmen in lottery shops. This has in turn created means of survival for them.

The world's lottery industry is estimated to be $70 Billion. In addition, in 2016, Nigerians approximately on the average, spends N154Billion on betting with an approximate total of 7.5 Million on lottery – baba ijebu, premier lotto, etc. and 22 million in sports betting. According to NLRC, the profit projected from lottery alone amounts to N45 Billion. SMS lottery generates N150 Billion, and also the gaming industry generates N300 Billion on estimates to the federal government annually.

As and today, Nigerians are advised to invest and engage largely in regulated lottery by the NLRC. This is because it also creates an avenue for them to contribute their quota to the anticipated national development, and also simultaneously having a probability of hitting jackpots that might change their life's experience.

Recently, several lottery companies and establishments have acquired license to operate across the country. Popular example of such companies are; Western Lotto, Golden Chance Lotto, the popular Baba Ijebu, etc.

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Now let's quickly take one of the aforementioned as a case study! – Western Lotto.

Western lotto is one hell of a lottery company whose end cannot even be predicted. Lately, they've being introducing several game changing lottery initiatives which is giving them lots of edge over other companies. The company is introducing "Pari Mutual Gaming Platforms" – this offers Nigerians the opportunity to experience two of the most exciting lottery brands – the "Lotto Race" & the "6/49" (also knownas UK Lotto). These games were introduced by Western Lotto, to several as means of offering platforms that gives adventures, and also to increase the rate of winnings.

The Lotto Race offers daily winnings, while the 6/49 offers weekly winnings to jackpot winners of prizes between N10 million to N15 million.

Western Lotto comes with an ease of play. You're only required to pick 6 numbers correctly and you're on your way to hitting the jackpot. However, if you get 3 numbers correctly, then you start winning! These games can be played via mobile apps, online shops, USSD and terminals.

About winning, Western Lotto promises to notify immediately whenever anyone wins on any of its gaming platforms. Either through a text or email which serves as a confirmation to your winning, And also a winning code can be paid through the Automated Teller Machine or Quick Teller – depending on the winning amount. You can as well just walk into a bank to claim your winnings. However, peradventure such winning is relatively big, such person would be given a VIP reception at the Western Lotto's Head Office situated at Victoria Island, Lagos – this is where he/she would receive his/her winnings or better still state the method of payment he/she wants.

Western Lotto is a gaming platform that's targeted at positive cum optimistic persons who believe they can hit big irrespective of the amount of money they have now.

The high rate at which Nigerians accept lottery is an indication that this industry would be one of the country's major contributor to economic improvements in the nearest future. And the continued encouragement via investments by the government via local and foreign investors, has made everyone highly optimistic about a very bright and broadened economic horizon. We're also optimistic that in the nearest future, the lottery industry would provide a fertile ground for social and economic growth & empowerment for Nigeria and Nigerians.

Experts have also argued that the development of a nation shouldn't only be tied to available human capital alone, but also to its social and economic resources. According to them, several developed nations have consolidated on these resources through lotteries in order to rewrite their history as well as establishing sound economic stand that's worthy to be emulated by the global community.

Lottery in Nigeria has grown over the years to be a social culture that has positively affected several economic fortunes. These days, lottery has also gained acceptance as a source if special intervention fund for governments which serves as alternatives for funding several innovations other than raising taxes in order to address basic infrastructural deficits.
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