Concerns Grow over Sports Betting in Africa
2022-12-26
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1In at least five African countries, many people consider sports gambling as a way to get regular income.
2Some consider sports gambling a way out of poverty.
3But critics warn that sports betting in Africa is increasing while poverty, unemployment and a lack of industry rules remain big problems.
4In one example, a Ugandan health official was so sure Argentina would win its World Cup soccer game against Saudi Arabia that he bet $1,800.
5The money was loaned to him by officials from an amount meant to go to 243 people who had taken part in a polio vaccine campaign.
6Argentina lost the game, and the official lost the money.
7Later he was chased by an angry crowd and locked himself indoors for days.
8His supervisor said he could lose his job.
9In Uganda, the official's loss was a lot of money. Yearly income per person in the country was $840 in 2020.
10Sports gamblers include students, politicians, workers or government officials.
11Information on sports betting from all of Africa is not available.
12But data from a few countries show its growing popularity.
13Online gambling has grown in recent years.
14The increase has been driven by a growing use of mobile payments and demand for online entertainment. Much of the betting is on soccer games in Europe.
15A South African government study from 2017 was among the most recent on gambling.
16It found that sports betting grew 14 percent a year between 2008 and 2016.
17But the number of South Africans who gambled fell from 57 percent to less than one third of the country's adult population.
18Today, online sports betting makes up 45 percent of the South African gambling market.
19Just 10 years ago casinos held an 80 percent share of the market, said the National Gambling Board.
20In Zimbabwe, most people do not make more than $100 a month.
21Sports betting there "has become a major income earner even for those who are in formal employment," said Japhet Moyo.
22He is secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.
23"The problem is that it becomes addictive and some lose their salaries to betting."
24A salary is money earned from work.
25African gamblers often expect to pay for daily needs with gambling winnings.
26Philo Ragada is an unemployed schoolteacher in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital.
27He bet on England to beat Senegal in a World Cup game.
28Ragada supported the African team but said he wanted England to win because "that's where my money is."
29His winnings, he said, would be "enough for tomorrow's bread and tomatoes."
30Wale Babalola is a college graduate in the Nigerian city of Lagos who owns eight betting shops after once struggling to find a job.
31"If not for betting, I wonder how some people will survive in this country."
32Concern about the industry is also growing.
33Reagan Wamajji is a researcher with the Uganda-based Center for Policy Analysis.
34He said there should be campaigns against gambling, especially sports betting.
35"However, it is such a lucrative business that meaningful reforms might be hard to push," he said.
36A Ugandan parliamentary group earlier this year suggested banning daytime betting.
37Neighboring Kenya has reported a decrease in gambling since 2019.
38That was when the country began taxing all bets.
39The government also withdrew the licenses of several major gambling companies.
40A Kenyan government study said that gamblers who considered gambling a good way to make money fell by half to 11 percent between 2019 and 2021.
41For regular gamblers, especially those who bet money that is not theirs, the recent World Cup has been punishing.
42Gideon Matua is a security guard in Uganda.
43He said two friends recently lost their jobs after losing other people's money.
44"I've seen very many people here crying," he said.
45"Someone comes here and puts a big amount on one team. If the team loses, they just go home. Some of them have been chased away from their jobs."
46I'm Dan Novak.
1In at least five African countries, many people consider sports gambling as a way to get regular income. 2Some consider sports gambling a way out of poverty. But critics warn that sports betting in Africa is increasing while poverty, unemployment and a lack of industry rules remain big problems. 3In one example, a Ugandan health official was so sure Argentina would win its World Cup soccer game against Saudi Arabia that he bet $1,800. The money was loaned to him by officials from an amount meant to go to 243 people who had taken part in a polio vaccine campaign. 4Argentina lost the game, and the official lost the money. Later he was chased by an angry crowd and locked himself indoors for days. His supervisor said he could lose his job. 5In Uganda, the official's loss was a lot of money. Yearly income per person in the country was $840 in 2020. 6Sports gamblers include students, politicians, workers or government officials. 7Information on sports betting from all of Africa is not available. But data from a few countries show its growing popularity. Online gambling has grown in recent years. The increase has been driven by a growing use of mobile payments and demand for online entertainment. Much of the betting is on soccer games in Europe. 8A South African government study from 2017 was among the most recent on gambling. It found that sports betting grew 14 percent a year between 2008 and 2016. But the number of South Africans who gambled fell from 57 percent to less than one third of the country's adult population. 9Today, online sports betting makes up 45 percent of the South African gambling market. Just 10 years ago casinos held an 80 percent share of the market, said the National Gambling Board. 10In Zimbabwe, most people do not make more than $100 a month. Sports betting there "has become a major income earner even for those who are in formal employment," said Japhet Moyo. He is secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. "The problem is that it becomes addictive and some lose their salaries to betting." 11A salary is money earned from work. 12African gamblers often expect to pay for daily needs with gambling winnings. Philo Ragada is an unemployed schoolteacher in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital. He bet on England to beat Senegal in a World Cup game. Ragada supported the African team but said he wanted England to win because "that's where my money is." His winnings, he said, would be "enough for tomorrow's bread and tomatoes." 13Wale Babalola is a college graduate in the Nigerian city of Lagos who owns eight betting shops after once struggling to find a job. "If not for betting, I wonder how some people will survive in this country." 14Concern about the industry is also growing. Reagan Wamajji is a researcher with the Uganda-based Center for Policy Analysis. He said there should be campaigns against gambling, especially sports betting. "However, it is such a lucrative business that meaningful reforms might be hard to push," he said. 15A Ugandan parliamentary group earlier this year suggested banning daytime betting. 16Neighboring Kenya has reported a decrease in gambling since 2019. That was when the country began taxing all bets. The government also withdrew the licenses of several major gambling companies. 17A Kenyan government study said that gamblers who considered gambling a good way to make money fell by half to 11 percent between 2019 and 2021. 18For regular gamblers, especially those who bet money that is not theirs, the recent World Cup has been punishing. 19Gideon Matua is a security guard in Uganda. He said two friends recently lost their jobs after losing other people's money. 20"I've seen very many people here crying," he said. "Someone comes here and puts a big amount on one team. If the team loses, they just go home. Some of them have been chased away from their jobs." 21I'm Dan Novak. 22Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 23_______________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25gambling - n. playing a game of chance in which money is put at risk in an effort to win other people's money 26income - n. money earned from work, investment or business 27betting - n. playing a game by risking losing money in exchange for the chance of winning someone else's money 28mobile - adj. related to the use of mobile or cell phones to do activities such as communicate or make payments 29entertainment - n. pastimes meant to give pleasure and that are not work 30casino -n. a business or a building in which people play games of chance 31addictive - adj. causing a strong, harmful need to regularly do or have something 32license - n. official permission to carry out a business or do an activity 33lucrative - n. profitable, producing big financial returns