It appears that operators of lottery shops around the city of Port Harcourt are making fast business with the increasing number of people patronizing such outlets.

It appears that operators of lottery shops around the city of Port Harcourt are making fast business with the increasing number of people patronizing such outlets. There are also indications that the spread of lotto shops in the city may have provided a distraction for some young people who before now found pleasure engaging in social vices.These was the summary of findings by our correspondent based of reactions from a cross-section of patrons and dealers of Golden Chance and Naira Bet lotto games in the Rivers State capital and beyond. Some respondents said they derive some sort of entertainment pleasure by patronizing lotto shops, while others look forward to the rewards from the game as a means of empowerment.

Contrary to the wide-held view about lotto as a form of scam, some dealers dismissed the claim with testimonies of rewards that have accrued to them overtime. Another stakeholder, NGOZI ELEANYA, observed that excess taxation by government has been a major hindrance to effectively tapping the full potentials of lotto as a means of youth empowerment. ELEANYA, who is the Rivers State representative, however advised young people to take advantage of the lotto trend and do something meaningful for themselves. Although there are some individuals who do not think lotto games should be encouraged because according to them, it encourages laziness and its rewards are not the productivity or hard work.