The fate of Kenyan Gamblers: What Does the Future Hold for Them?

Did you know that Kenya has the largest number of betting lot in Africa? With a good number being the youth?

Well, these are not my assumptions but Google reports can attest to such claims.

The Google report shows that out of the 20 searches, Kenyans seized 11 spots that are related to betting.

Based on Geopoll report, Kenyan youth spend more than the average of $50 that other sports gamblers spend in Sub Saharan Africa.

“Kenya is the leader in the most amount of money spent on gambling. Youth elsewhere spend less than $50 a month and most bet only once a month,” Geopoll said.

This is a clear sign that the Kenyan youth is getting addicted to betting.

But we can argue in various ways to understand why the youth are using this ‘Drug of Passion’

Unemployment

A good number of Kenyan youths are not employed, don’t have permanent jobs or have less paying jobs.

Whatever comes to mind when you are not employed and need quick cash is not even close to good deeds. Social evils are relatable vices and vary directly with unemployment.

You might resort to gambling to stake that little money that you have and earn more. Though there is no assurance, it is a risk.

Easy way to get money

Imagine someone approaches you with 500 shillings note and tells you that if he throws the note and it falls on the certain side (that which you’ve chosen) he gives you the note and if the vice versa happens, you give him 50 bob note.

You would want to try and win and if you do win, you would wish that person to come your way every day.

You get to earn more money just by risking a little. This seems like an easy way to get money but you have to be really willing to risk.

The youth tend to waste more money and some even place stakes on their school fees, bills or salaries, no wonder many ends up hanging on ropes.

It is fun when you win

It is really fun when you win a bet. And this is where addiction comes in.

Of course, no one wants to lose money and when you have it, you would still have the urge to want more.

This affects gamblers who have been losing and suddenly they end up winning a bet.it is a good feeling. You would even hear some saying “let me drain money from this firm…”

Gambling as a Source of income and revenue

The betting industry has brought about a simple way of earning through gambling. Some individuals fully rely on gambling as their main source of income. It’s understandable, what do you expect them to do when they don’t have a job?

On the hand, the state benefits highly from gambling as the taxman generates revenue in millions from these gambling firm. Though we can term it as a monetary cycle, somebody has to gain while someone loses.

Effects of revoking licenses of betting firms in Kenya

The issue has hit the airwaves for a period of about two years now.

Revoking the licenses of firms would mean a lot

Reduction in revenue

An obvious thing is the firms had to be taxed and as it always goes, pay as you earn, the more the firms earned, the more tax they paid, thus the more revenue.

The firms even ran adverts on the media which was an indirect way of tax payment.

Revoking their licenses would mean a serious reduction in revenue that is worth millions of shillings.

The drop of sponsorships         

Sportpesa has been sponsoring sports in Kenya and promoting talents to the youth. Teams like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards had benefitted from this sponsorship.

Scrapping the license of the firm means the teams are going to have hardships in running their activities.

Lastly, the main reason why the government had to revoke licenses from several betting firms was to reduce the rate of betting among the youth.

It is worth it to make such moves, but we should consider the effects this would bring to society. In my opinion, firms should be regulated other than taking away their licenses.