Father must have money and can provide for his family. He Wouldn't act that way if they don't have enough. Or maybe the father is really a disciplinarian and wanted the boy to stop gambling as well.
That one hell of a disciplinarian the father must be. 38,000,000 naira is like 51,000 dollars if we convert that. Now that's a good some to start something good for almost anyone who hangs around betshops looking gor luck to escape the poor living condition in Nigeria and get some test of the good life as an average or middle class citizen.
I wonder who is this young man. Am sure betting is 18+which very much designates him for an adult and ought not to be living with the family. If he ain't sure if he should have been living with the family, this was a good sign to start living out and being his own person. I think that would be the case in the end.
Whatever reason the father had on his mind, that is not enough reason to reject the gift from his son, if the child has not given any of his family and relatives anything at all, they would have said he doesn't have the love for his family. Let's say Religion must have been the father's excuse in the first place, he should have accepted in public and explained to him in private the reason for his objection to the money, I don't see any reason the father should reject money at all.
@Bittraffic what do you think is more indiscipline by making fun of a child's success in the public, the amount is big enough to start something in his region and I believe if there is proper management, they will yield something from that money if it is well used, we should learn to call a spade a spade, this act is delusional and embarrassing, to be honest.