Betting in Kenya.

Sports’ betting is an industry that has been growing exponentially globally for a couple of years now. It has gained popularity and become a lucrative business especially when it comes to international football which has games being played every weekend and at times even on the weekdays. With the growth of the internet and mobile communication devices, betting companies have used that opportunity to develop online betting where a user can place a bet using their phones. Men and youths aged 25-34are amongst the common users of these betting sites on a daily basis with 77% believed to have gambled in the past, while 58% of this group gamble at least once a weekwhich in turn has led to the growth of betting companies according to Geopoll. In 2013, the first online sports betting company, Sport-Pesa was registered in Kenya and since then, over twenty other betting companies have come up, each with their own unique method of attracting customers. These betting firms have affected the youth today, with majority of them taking each and every penny they have to try their lack on odds given by betting firms. Most unemployed youth addicted to sports betting keep going blindly hoping for a win which will recoup what they’ve lost besides making them instant millionaires. Gregory a painter in Narok is one of the unfortunate people to have lost multiple bets and according to him he has to try his luck, hoping he will win a jackpot one day. “When I finish my work every day I take at least Ksh 500 and place bets which I have so far been getting losses mostly but I have hope that one day I will win a mega jackpot,” he said Betting in Kenya has become the norm and most bets have played a big role in the lives of those betting either positively or negativelyin their lives. Peter an owner of a boda-boda operating in Embakasi finished his diploma at Kenya institute of management narrated about his adventure with betting after school. “I have been betting for over an year since I finished my diploma early 2018 and I am not in the process of quitting anytime soon since I have been able to win a lot of bets which has enabled me to buy this motorbike and now I can earn a living since I lack employment,” Peter said This is not the case in all gamblers because some have suffered major losses and even gone to the extent of borrowing money and even falling into debts so that they can bet. Youngsters often struggle to properly deal with loses and tend to overcompensate by throwing even bigger money on games of chance. This way, gambling encourages reckless and irresponsible behavior and inhibits the ability to properly assess risks and consequences Anthropologist Natasha Schull says, “For gamblers, it is not always the sense of chance that is attractive, but the predictability of the game that supports their action.” Obsessive bettors just like drug addicts are unable to control the urge to gamble even when they know their gambling is affecting them or their loved ones. They passionately want to continue with the activity regardless of the consequences These challenges facing Kenya youths have come up because there are no clear laws governing sports betting, leaving betting companies to set their rules and play by them .As such, these companies are using anything at their disposal to add up to their profits and one of this means is by advertising. According to Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC, 2016), in Kenya, the annual gross turnover of the industry is Ksh 2 Billion which according to the government has since risen to over 200 billion in 2019 The government is trying to keep up with the pace of the industry and to date, most of the laws revolve around licensing, taxation and control of entrants and not on regulation and protections to vulnerable users. Minister for interior Fred Matiangi in Julyvowed that. “We are not going to entertain these businesses that are wrecking the lives of our children anymore and I promise that they have to go soon.” He also accused the firms of non-compliance in tax while wrecking the livelihoods of many Kenyans at the expense of capitalism. This remarks caused a major shake-up in the betting industry which has so far caused major betting firms like sport-pesa and Bet-inlicense to be revoked on tax evasion whereby a 20 percent tax on bettors’ wins and 15 %on firms was introduced through the Finance Bill. According to Kenya Betting Control and Licensing acting director LitiWambua to reduce the effect of gambling, banned betting adverts before the watershed period and directed that all adverts on betting be approved first by the board before advertising. As a country we need to create a better and safer environment for youths and the unemployed to grow and thrive in, explaining why gambling is addictive and the effect it can impact on their lives when they do decide to roll the dice. End..............