It has been called Africa’s silent epidemic: gambling addiction. Across the continent, young people have become ideal targets for global betting companies, especially since 8 in 10 of them own mobile phones, often equipped with some form of payment. Or as one addict put it. "a casino in your pocket..
The betting companies leverage young peoples’ passion for football. And there’s no passion greater than for the European leagues, where some clubs are even sponsored by betting companies, creating the impression there’s little distinction between football and gambling.
Estimates on the size of Africa’s gambling vary. But according to Astute Analytica, in 2023, the market generated a revenue of around 6 billion dollars. It’s projected to almost double by 2032.
As betting booms, critics are raising the alarm, saying its destroying lives. According to a geopoll study conducted last year among more than 3,000 people in 6 countries, 76% of people interviewed had gambled in Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria, with Kenya leading at 82%. This high engagement increases the risk of addiction, financial instability, and mental health issues.
Now, the government in Kenya has banned betting advertisements and promotions for 30 days, as it seeks to curb "a proliferation of gambling activities across the country." DW’s East Africa Correspondent Felix Maringa met two men who say they simply can’t break the habit.
00:00 Gambling addiction in Africa
05:03 DW speaks with Tunde Adebisi, researcher at Ulster University in Belfast, Northern Ireland
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