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Yesterday we had something I'd like to call a discussion (it was more insults that actual discussion but let's run with that) about betting related issues.
I asked questions on why Otunba Akin Alabi, owner of one of the biggest betting companies is allowed to give
I asked questions on why Otunba Akin Alabi, owner of one of the biggest betting companies is allowed to give
what can be seen/misconstrued as betting advice.
There was no malice involved, I was just curious as to why such is allowed. There are several reasons for my concern and I'll be honest about what produced such thoughts.
There was no malice involved, I was just curious as to why such is allowed. There are several reasons for my concern and I'll be honest about what produced such thoughts.
As someone who briefly struggled with a gambling problem (9 days), I know how such things can end. I have written an unpublished article about my personal experience over those 9 days when I lost more than a million (I take full responsibility for my own actions.)
I remember the mind state I was in. At the height of it, I betted 500k on a single game in desperation to at least cut some of my loses. I remember shopping around for advice for anyone that would offer one, I remember how unsettled I was and the irrational actions I took just to
get some form of respite. It was one of the most unfortunate things, not because I lost money, but because I lost myself in it for a while. In hindsight, it was a lesson that needed to be learnt about my own level of impulsiveness and why I shouldn't get into any business
that rewards it because I lack the level of control needed to turn a profit in such (same reason I stopped messing with crypto and forex).
I remember the horrible state of my mind and the only reason I didn't lose more money was because by bank will not let me fund my
I remember the horrible state of my mind and the only reason I didn't lose more money was because by bank will not let me fund my
betting account with 1 million naira. If it had, I would have and the game which I had in mind lost anyway.
It was a deeply irrational state. It is those kind of situations that if it doesn't happen to you personally, you'll think whoever went through that ordeal has to be the
It was a deeply irrational state. It is those kind of situations that if it doesn't happen to you personally, you'll think whoever went through that ordeal has to be the
biggest dope ever. How could they not see the hole they were digging.
Back to it. When my 1 million naira deposit failed. I shut off everything and had some serious talk with myself. I believe I was off twitter for about 3 weeks between Jan-Feb. I locked everything out and had
Back to it. When my 1 million naira deposit failed. I shut off everything and had some serious talk with myself. I believe I was off twitter for about 3 weeks between Jan-Feb. I locked everything out and had
to retrace my steps and make peace with losing almost half the cash I had at that point which had taken some time to gather.
If the Akin Alabi tweet had occurred at that particular instant. I would have found a way to make that 1 million naira deposit any which way.
If the Akin Alabi tweet had occurred at that particular instant. I would have found a way to make that 1 million naira deposit any which way.
I would have done everything possible because to me, it'll have been a sign from God himself telling me I wanted to help me. To a lot of people it was Akin Alabi banter, to me it would have been divine. I don't know what would have happened had I lost on that advice.
This were some of the thoughts on my mind after that game. I thought about other people who might be in that place I was in and that was what led to my curiosity about why people like Akin Alabi who are sports betting insiders are allowed to post tweets like this.
I still don't agree with it.
Asides the mental health aspect of people who have deep betting problems and who may have done some irrational things based on that tweet, which will have seen them lose and which might complicate their problems, I also believe it is not good
Asides the mental health aspect of people who have deep betting problems and who may have done some irrational things based on that tweet, which will have seen them lose and which might complicate their problems, I also believe it is not good
for the integrity of Mogaji Akin Alabi himself. He might not agree with me.
It is for this same reason that college basketball players are banned from sports betting because it was found to adversely affects their performance in school and their behaviour in and outside it.
It is for this same reason that college basketball players are banned from sports betting because it was found to adversely affects their performance in school and their behaviour in and outside it.
A lot of people used the "Akin Alabi cannot influence the result of a match", that's an obvious but misguided angle. The PFA bans Salah bring not only betting in the English league but also in the Nigerian league or wherever they play any league for that matter.
Does the PFA think Ndidi can effect the result of a 3rd tier league somewhere in Colossians and Tẹssalonians? But yet it is not allowed, why?
This is not limited to the PFA. The NFL and NBA do the same, not only for players but for stakeholders in those leagues.
This is not limited to the PFA. The NFL and NBA do the same, not only for players but for stakeholders in those leagues.
Do they think these people all have some kind of influence somewhere?
But the opinion is that this people hangout together, athletes and stakeholders and as such information can be passed to the financial benefit of those involved. So it was outrightly banned.
But the opinion is that this people hangout together, athletes and stakeholders and as such information can be passed to the financial benefit of those involved. So it was outrightly banned.
We have seen pictures of Akin Alabi with said athletes, we don't know the context. Either as just a fan, friend or whatever. That premise is anyone's guess.
But the opinion that Akin Alabi cannot somehow in any way posses insider information on sporting activities is at best
But the opinion that Akin Alabi cannot somehow in any way posses insider information on sporting activities is at best
naive and at worst ignorant.
And if someone who suffers from a gambling problem were to see those tweets yesterday, best believe they'll have acted on it even if they had no prior interest in betting on it. Compulsive gamblers are not known to be the most rational people.
And if someone who suffers from a gambling problem were to see those tweets yesterday, best believe they'll have acted on it even if they had no prior interest in betting on it. Compulsive gamblers are not known to be the most rational people.
This can have unwanted and preventable effects by placing regulations on such actions as was displayed by Otunba Akin Alabi yesterday.
As such, I said what I said.
Good morning. Olóyè, not writimg from the #councilofchiefs
As such, I said what I said.
Good morning. Olóyè, not writimg from the #councilofchiefs
