Baba Ijebu
10 reasons Nigerians love 'Baba Ijebu'
Gambling or better called in Nigerian parlance, Baba Ijebu, has
become a pastime of many Nigerians who believe they can get rich over
night by staking their money there.
Before the advent of the now famous 'Baba Ijebu', gambling in Nigeria was mostly restricted to the football pool betting which involved the prediction of matches to be played in the various leagues in Britain.
But
when Baba Ijebu or better still, Lotto, came, it revolutionised the
betting industry as people would not have to wait till the weekends to
bet.
In the case of the new models, one could bet three times a day with the prospect of winning on each. To make it more enticing, one could bet with as little and Five Naira and win something tangible.
It became the favourites of many as families went into it headlong and even churches gave sure tips on the game.
But now, the influence of Baba Ijebu is dwindling with the coming of sports betting where one can actually win very big money.
But what is the attraction to betting for Nigerians?
Here are 10 reasons betting has come to stay in Nigeria.
1. Variable Rewards
Nigerians
who are addicted to gambling believe it provides them variable and
unexpected rewards, and they often imagine that their next attempt might
fulfil their needs.
You would hear
statements like: 'This time, I am going to finish Baba Ijebu' 'I will
win N10 million tomorrow and that will be my last'.
This
illogical expectation of a variable reward keeps them going for it. For
others, though, it might sound illogical but for pathological gamblers,
it always a motivating factor.
2. Near-Miss Effect
Just
take a look at the faces of gamblers when they collect their tickets
and you will confirm that the near-miss effect often propels them to try
again.
When they get just one miss from a
ticket of four numbers, they would think if they had followed their
instinct and played the number they had in mind, they would become
instant millionaires.
So
they want to believe the instinct the next time and would surely win.
You hear statements like: 'Ha, Baba turned my number 34 to 43. Next
time, I will finish him.'
When he gets
that close, he would assume that he was very close to winning while in
fact, the next time he tries, the probability will be the same since the
slots will be reset. The near miss effect makes people think they are
getting closer and so it keeps them going.
3. Control Illusion
Gambling seems to make people think they are in control while the fact remains that it is the game that actually controls them.
Not
understanding that betting is all about luck, they would point at the
man who won a huge amount some weeks back and assumes they could be in
such a position soon and as such, they just have to play some more.
4. To Make Up For Past Losses
As
a gambler loses money in a game, there are chances that he would get
addicted to it with the goal of making up for the losses he has had in
years.
If he has not won any tangible
money in gambling, he would want to keep betting hoping to recoup all he
has lost in one fell swoop but the cycle has a way of repeating itself
on and on.
5. Winning Becomes A Catalyst
If
a gambler wins some amount in a game, chances are that he would stake
an even bigger amount hoping to make a kill the next time.
The
illusion here again is that once he wins, he unconsciously feels he has
the magic wand to predict the game correctly and places a bigger bet to
'close' down the betting company the next time.
When
a person wins, certain lights turn on and certain sounds are played in
his head. This makes other gamblers think that they have a great chance
too and the fact that someone has just won makes the gambler think that
he can be the next.
6. Early Wins
A
person who wins on an early bet has the tendency to become addicted to
the game. For instance, if at the initial stage, he stakes N200 and wins
N2000, chances are that he would think the more money he stakes, the
bigger money he would win.
While this is
going on, he would lose so much money before the next win which would
not even be quantifiable with what he has lost over the years.
7. Luck
Gamblers keep losing money but keep gambling because they believe their luck will surely come one day.
Statistics
have shown that almost all gamblers lose and that on the long term the
only winner is the betting company because even if 10 people win N10
million each, the companies still make a killing with the number of
gamblers who lose on a daily basis.
8. Escape From Financial Problems
Financial
problems can hardly leave the mind of a person but as soon as he
embarks on a gambling pattern he never gets to leave because he believes
that the end of his problems has come.
The
subconscious mind of a person believes all of his financial problems
can be solved and this is why it's a perfect place to escape from those
problems.
9. Get Rich Quick Syndrome
Many
gamblers believe that people can become rich quickly or overnight and
as such, they keep pumping their money into the machines.
They would swap stories of how someone won millions on a single stake and is now living the life of a big boy.
Most times, these stories are made up but try getting a gambler to think otherwise is more like squeezing water out of stone.
10. Passion
Some
gamblers are drawn by the passion the have to betting. They are
passionate about betting and believe they will one day become as rich as
the Dangotes and Otedolas of this
world but little do know that those people worked hard to get to the
position they now occupy and did not just wake up to get those riches.
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