SPORTS BETTING AND STUDENTS MORAL BEHAVIOR (A STUDY OF OGUN STATE
Abstract
Sports betting have rapidly become an entrenched part of student life across Nigerian universities, raising profound concerns about its moral, academic, and psychological implications. Despite its growing acceptance among young adults, especially in tertiary institutions, its influence on students’ value systems and behavioural patterns remains under-researched in the Nigerian context. This study aimed to examine the impact of sports betting on students’ moral behaviour, academic commitment, emotional well-being, and the influence of peer and media pressure. Grounded in Rational Choice Theory and Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory, the study adopted a qualitative research design using key informant interviews (KII) with students from Crawford University and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Fourteen respondents were purposely selected, and their responses were thematically analysed using NVivo 12. Findings revealed that sports betting has become normalised among students, driven by financial desperation, peer influence, and the allure of quick wealth. It was observed to compromise students’ moral judgement, impair academic focus, and provoke emotional distress including anxiety, secrecy, and withdrawal. Advertising by betting platforms also played a significant role in glamorising gambling among students. The study concludes that sports betting pose a multidimensional threat to the ethical and psychological stability of university students. It recommends structured financial literacy programmes, stricter campus policies on betting, and accessible mental health interventions.
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