A young man has taken to social media to lament his addiction to sports betting, how it has affected him both his financial and academic pursuit.
He wrote:
“My name is David. I’m a 24 year old young man. I’m in my final year in one of the universities in the south west.
I’m addicted to gambling. Like, I can’t just help it.
The craze for this thing started sometime last year. It has eaten deep into me that it now dictates my mood. The only time I can be genuinely happy is when I win money from bet9ja virtual. If I should loose, it makes me very sad to the extent that I see myself as a useless person.
I’ve gone to the extent of using my school fees to play virtual and that of my course mate that trusted me so much. Though, I was able to pay my course mate’s fees without her knowing the truth, I’m unable to pay mine till now. I always have this mentality that I will win.
Whenever money enters my hand like this, no matter how little, it is to head straight to Bet9ja shop or online. The urge is usually very strong. Sometimes, it seems like there’s a force pushing me to do it.
Before this lock down, I accumulated a debt of over a hundred thousand naira in a Bet9ja shop in my school environment which I’m unable to pay till now.
I know the owner of the shop would be waiting to pick me up with police when I resume. I don’t know what to do.
I need help badly. I’ve prayed to God severally but it’s as if nothing is happening. I’ve even promised God not to play Bet9ja again but I keep on seeing myself still playing it.
Right now as I’m typing this, I just came from a Bet9ja shop where I lost money. Money that is not even my own. Sometimes, I feel like taking my life so that everything will just end but if I remember the pain it would cause my mother, I’ll just hold back.
Please for the people that were once addicted to gambling, how did you stop it? Is there any remedy for it because I’m in need of it badly?
I can’t sleep at night anymore because I’m always thinking of debts that I’ve accumulated which has run into over 300,000. All thanks to Bet9ja virtual.
Someone advised me to get a job that would keep me busy so that I won’t have time to play virtual but there are no jobs. I don’t mind doing any, even if it is a menial job till school resumes.
Please I need your advice. Feel free to bash me because I deserve more than that even.”