Upholding safe sports betting principles was high on the agenda at the maiden Nkrataasem Sports Betting Summit that brought stakeholders in the betting industry together to outline and echo best practices.
The summit, themed ‘An unforgettable experience in the world of sports betting’, aimed to educate attendees on the importance of safe betting principles – including responsible gambling, player protection and fair gaming practices.
Keynote speakers and panellists from leading sports betting companies, sports journalist, regulatory bodies and industry experts shared insights on best practices, industry trends and the role of technology in promoting safe betting.
Chief Executive Officer-Nkrataasem Sports, Alex Kobina Stonne – speaking at the event held at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly conference hall, highlighted the importance of sensitising bettors on the need to be responsible as sport betting can be addictive and the high risks easily ignored, which might be harmful to the youth population.
He emphasised that betting companies only do enough to uphold the principles of safe betting as outlined by the various regulatory policies, and the onus of responsibility lies on the individual bettor to think about their safety and interest first.
“We are committed to ensuring that sports betting is conducted in a fair, safe and responsible manner. This summit marks a significant step toward creating a culture of responsible betting in Ghana,” he said.
The event was aimed at educating youth and bettors on responsible gambling and hosted by Natalia Andoh, a counselling psychologist and broadcast journalist.
The gathering featured insightful talks from notable speakers including Noel Nutsugah, a lecturer and Head-Public Relations (PR), University of Media Arts and Communications-Institute of Journalism (UNIMAC-IJ).
Mr. Nutsugah emphasised the importance of risk and funds management for young bettors, stressing that betting involves risks and it’s crucial for bettors to prioritise financial management.
Keynote speaker, Enoch Smith – a renowned sports betting tipster, expanded participants’ understanding of betting strategies by providing practical insights on implementing them effectively.
Betting Expert, Opoku Clinton – also known as LilMo GH, further elaborated on the fundamentals of sports betting; including understanding and analysing odds using Poisson distribution. He advocated for bettors to approach betting as a business rather than a mere chance-based activity, emphasising the need for self-discipline to avoid addiction.
The summit highlighted key principles for safe betting, including age-verification – ensuring that only individuals above 18 years old engage in sports betting; self-exclusion; time limits; and ensuring that advertising is clear, transparent and not misleading, among others.
In a post-event interview LilMo GH praised the event as both informative and impactful, expressing hope that participants will apply the knowledge gained to bet responsibly and contribute to a more lucrative and harm-free betting industry.
Broadcast Journalist and Head of Sports at Adom cluster, E.K. Wallace, emphasised the necessity for responsible gambling. He highlighted the importance of adhering to legal age restrictions and encouraged practices that minimise harm while maximising enjoyment in betting.
Mr. Wallace made participants aware of severe consequences from irresponsible gambling; including financial loss, addiction and relationship issues.
The organisers expressed commitment to continuing this initiative annually, as they believe educating bettors on safe betting practices is crucial.
