Alarming Study Finds 40% of Nigerian Medical and Dental Students Gamble Online, over 1 in 10 at Risk of Gambling Disorder

A new nationwide study has revealed an alarming rise in online gambling among Nigerian medical and dental students, with nearly four out of every 10 students participating in betting activities and more than one in 10 showing signs of a possible gambling disorder.

The peer-reviewed study, published in the Journal of Gambling Studies and indexed on PubMed, examined gambling behaviour among undergraduate medical and dental students across Nigeria. Researchers say the findings raise serious concerns about the mental health, academic performance and financial well-being of future healthcare professionals, particularly as online betting continues to gain popularity among young Nigerians.

The research was led by Nicholas Aderinto alongside Adetola Emmanuel Babalola, Gbolahan Olatunji, Emmanuel Kokori and other collaborators. It surveyed 403 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students from 12 universities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, making it one of the first nationwide, multi-institutional studies focused specifically on gambling among medical and dental students.

Using the internationally recognised South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), a validated tool for assessing gambling behaviour and identifying potential gambling-related problems, the researchers found that 40.19 percent of respondents had engaged in gambling, with online betting accounting for the majority of participation. The average SOGS score recorded among participants was 1.35 ± 2.49.

More significantly, 10.42 percent of the students met the screening threshold for a possible gambling disorder, indicating that approximately one in every 10 respondents may be experiencing problematic gambling behaviour that could require further psychological assessment and professional support.

Sports betting emerged as the most common form of gambling among participants, reflecting the rapid growth of online betting platforms and mobile gambling applications across Nigeria. The study also found that male students were significantly more likely to participate in sports betting than female students.

Researchers observed that gambling participation was higher among older students, particularly those above the age of 30, as well as among medical students compared to their counterparts studying dentistry. Higher prevalence was also reported among students attending institutions such as the University of Calabar and the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

The study further identified several factors associated with gambling participation, including financial dependence on parents or family members, scholarships, student loans and other funding sources. Students with a family history of gambling were also more likely to participate, suggesting that both financial pressures and family influence contribute to gambling behaviour.

According to the researchers, the widespread availability of online gambling platforms through smartphones, affordable internet access and digital payment systems has made betting easier than ever for Nigerian youths. Coupled with increasing economic hardship, unemployment concerns and the intense academic demands faced by medical and dental students, gambling may be viewed by some as a coping mechanism or a means of generating additional income.

Although many participants reported betting relatively small amounts of money, the researchers warned that the proportion of students displaying signs of possible gambling disorder should not be ignored. They noted that problem gambling has been linked globally to anxiety, depression, financial difficulties, impaired judgment, addiction and declining academic performance, all of which could have serious implications for students preparing for careers in healthcare.

The authors stressed that medical and dental professionals are expected to make critical decisions that affect patients’ lives, making their psychological well-being and sound judgment essential throughout their education and professional careers.

To address the growing concern, the researchers called for comprehensive awareness campaigns on responsible gambling across Nigerian universities, improved access to campus-based mental health services, confidential counselling programmes, financial literacy education and targeted interventions for students identified as being at risk. They also recommended further nationwide studies to better understand the long-term psychological, academic and physical effects of online gambling among Nigerian university students.

The study was first published online on May 27, 2025, before appearing in the September 2025 edition of the Journal of Gambling Studies (Volume 41, Pages 1329–1348; DOI: 10.1007/s10899-025-10393-z). As online gambling and sports betting continue to expand rapidly across Nigeria, the researchers say the findings underscore the urgent need for coordinated action by universities, health professionals and policymakers to protect students from gambling-related harm while safeguarding the future of the country’s healthcare workforce.

Outrage as University of Calabar Reportedly Orders Over 300 Dental Students to Change Schools Amid Accreditation Crisis

Follow Us on Social Media

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•