Date: 2017-08-18

An Ilorin based legal practitioner, Mr Segun Ekundayo, has expressed concern on the increasing number of underage persons participating in pool and games betting in Nigeria.

Ekundayo expressed this concern in Ilorin on Thursday while speaking. According to him, betting of any kind is a habit, which children under the age of 18 should not be involved at all.

The lawyer, therefore, called on the government at all levels to come up with a legislation that would checkmate underage persons from patronising bet centres.

He lamented that children were fond of sneaking out to such centres to play games while betting agents did allow them to do so.

"It is now commonplace in the country to see teenagers bet at Bet9ja, 1960 bet, Nairabet and Baba Ijebu betting centres without any fear of being arrested.

"Government, as a matter of urgency, should take a decisive action by discouraging such act henceforth for the sake of Nigeria.

"Security agents should be deployed to such centres to monitor any underage persons found engaging in pool betting as well as apprehend centre operators harbouring them," he said. (NAN)