COVID-19: E-Sports bettors decry prolonged lockdown

Some sports bettors in Enugu have decried the prolonged lockdown following the outbreak of the Coronavirus across the globe, which has led to the suspension of sports activities.

Some of the bettors, who spoke on Wednesday in Enugu, said they were financially bankrupt and idle as the lockdown had continued to bite harder.

Mr Elochukwu Ofoke, a football fan at Agbani Road, said that with the suspension and outright cancellation of tournaments, his revenue generation had reduced since the avenue he used in augmenting his income had been shut down.

“I see it as a bonus which I add to my income, before COVID-19, I had won a reasonable amount of money totaling N60, 000 which I used to pay my bills,” he said.

Another bettor, who spoke anonymously said that since the outbreak of the virus, he had been away from betting activity because all games had been suspended.

“Since the outbreak of the virus, football leagues have been suspended and I have been idle because no game to be staked on,” he said.

Mr Samson Ilodibe at Achara Layout, said he used the money he made from betting as additional income to take care of himself in the University.

“I am an undergraduate, betting is an opportunity for me to make money because I use it to increase my feeding in school,” Ilodibe said.

Mr John Ekwo, a resident of Amechi Road, said with the lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic, he had not been able to play or win any game because betting shops had been closed as a result of suspension of sporting activities.

Meanwhile, the bettors expressed fear as their financial savings were drastically reducing due to the prolonged global lockdown. (NAN)