Gambling Addiction on the Rise: America and Kenya Face Sobering Statistics

A website that provides insights on gambling in America presents some alarming statistics. According to QuitGamble.com’s Gambling Addiction Statistics and Facts 2024, 3% of American gamblers are burdened with substantial gambling debt, with 20% of them filing for bankruptcy after losing all their money.

Interestingly, the survey reveals that more women struggle with gambling debts compared to men, with 78% of female addicts facing debt issues against 71% of male addicts.

While these statistics might seem distant, Kenya is currently grappling with an unprecedented surge in gambling products, fueled by weak regulatory policies, the Internet, and mobile devices.

Kenyan youth are increasingly drawn to betting sites and shops across the country, often unaware that there are more losers than winners in gambling.

The GeoPoll Survey 2022 places Kenya ahead of South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria, with 82.81% of respondents admitting to placing bets.

Betting sites continue to grow their profit margins, leaving behind a trail of broken relationships, school dropouts, and survivors of suicide who bet more than they could afford to lose.

While we see images of a handful of winners on our screens, behind the scenes, hundreds of families are dealing with mental health issues of their loved ones, facing the reality of broken marriages and abruptly ended education dreams due to lost bets.

What many gamblers fail to realize is that betting companies are profit-driven business entities, not charitable organizations. Every betting platform has built-in advantages ensuring they are the real winners. You just can’t win against the house!

QuitGamble.com 2024 notes that in America, 50% of problem gamblers have committed crimes, 63% have written bad cheques, and 30% have stolen from their workplaces. These issues are mirrored locally in petty crimes as pathological gamblers seek funds from all sources, including exhausting mobile loan applications.

A notable finding in the survey is that sports betting sites, casinos, and slot games derive 86% of their revenue from 5% of the losers. This should prompt every gambler to rethink and push society to adopt measures to save the youth from drowning in betting euphoria.

The reality is that the gambling industry cannot be wished away. As gambling companies continue to profit despite regulatory attempts, society must implement mechanisms to mitigate the negative impacts on society.

Beyond government regulation of the betting industry, society should invest in mentorship to combat ignorance and instill a sense of responsibility among the youth. Parents should start conversations with their children about gambling and its risks as soon as they reach their teenage years.

The youth should be made aware that gambling is addictive and that issues related to any drug addiction, such as truancy, lack of hygiene, crime, and relationship problems, are also linked to gambling.

Additionally, the youth need to understand that gambling is not a form of investment. The notion that gamblers, especially sports bettors, are investors (wawekezaji) is misleading and dishonest.

They should be taught honorable ways of making money instead of idly waiting around betting shops. Investment requires innovation, patience, and persistence—virtues that are crucial not only in investment but also in their general interactions with others.

Furthermore, the youth should be encouraged to enjoy sports without placing bets. They need to understand that betting robs them of the thrill of watching the game and places them at the mercy of game outcomes beyond their control, impacting their finances and relationships with creditors.

This alone is a significant stressor and a risk to their mental health.

Lastly, the government should introduce more stringent legislation and provide technical resources, such as personnel, to offer psychological assistance to gambling addicts and curb gambling addiction in society.

The society needs to be educated on the effects of gambling, and resources should be made available to gambling addicts who wish to overcome their challenges and lead normal lives.

By fLEXI tEAM