Gambling and the future of our youth

Five years ago, on January 27, 2019, I wrote a column, 'We need a national dialogue on the dangers of betting.

After that column was published, one of my dear readers, Raymond Mgeni, commented, “Betting is a new disease for our nation. It is a problem and develops to be a disease for young and adults”. 

Today, I have recalled his words after deciding to assess and analyse the betting situation in Tanzania. How it was and how it is going.

Things are indeed getting worse! That is evident from the recent statistics by the Director-Gaming Board of Tanzania, Mr. James Mbalwe, which indicate that the contribution of gambling to government tax revenues has tremendously increased. For instance, in 10 years, revenue increased from 2.8 billion Tsh in 2006/2007 to 33.6 billion in 2016/2017. By 2017/2018, the revenues had increased more than twice and reached 78.7 billion. 

Based on my analysis of gambling, from 2019 to date, the tax revenue has increased from Sh89 billion in 2019/2020 to Sh170.4 billion in 2022/2023. In just 6 months of the 2023–2024 financial year (July–December 2023), about Sh108.16 billion has been collected. These statistics speak volumes! 

Mr Mbalwe also indicated that more than 25,000 formal and informal jobs have been generated. Likewise, the number of betting companies in the country has also increased. 

Have you noticed that on almost every major TV and radio station you watch and listen to, there are advertisements for betting every couple of minutes? They tell people how easily they can make money by participating in betting.

Even some people (public figures), who are well-trusted by millions of Tanzanians, are used by betting companies to lure the masses to participate in gambling. 

From gambling advertisements, some young boys and male adults think betting is that simple for them to earn money. Unfortunately, the betting advertisements never disclose the fact that most of those who bet lose their hard-earned cash.

People participating in gambling become addicted, and some end up in poverty.

A person addicted to gambling will use whatever means to get the money for gambling. Some even skip meal sessions like lunch to use the money for gambling. Funny enough, even after losing several times, they continue gambling in the faith that they will win big money one day.

Gambling can become an addiction, like those people addicted to alcohol or drugs. Studies show that those people with a gambling addictions also abuse drugs and alcohol.

A report by the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (2020) on gambling and mental health correlation shows that gambling /online betting have negative impacts on the people who gamble, their families, and wider society. People who gamble could be at` increased risk for depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and social isolation. They can also experience divorce (to married one), separation, violence, arguments, disagreements, and homelessness. Other consequences include unemployment, a lack of motivation to do ordinary economic activities, and an inability to concentrate at work. 

 Thus, the consequence of gambling extends beyond a person participating in it, as it extends to society. Note that when a person addicted to gambling lacks money, he can even steal money or property from friends or any other person in society to get cash for gambling. 

To the betting companies, they are generating a lot of money from youths and adults. That's why the government's revenues have increased. But what is the fate of that for future generations? To me, we are creating a time bomb, lazy people, who concentrate much on gambling instead of participating in economic activities. 

 Something needs to be done at the level of the person, family, community, and nation to protect our youth and future generations from gambling. 

 Dr. Saumu Jumanne is a lecturer at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE).