Gambling addiction has become a real issue in Kenya, with the country having one of the highest gambling rates in Africa.

Gambling numbers in Kenya vary from research to research, but a GeoPoll study in 2021 showed that about 84% of Kenyan youths have been involved in gambling, with a third of that percentage betting on a daily basis.

Perhaps a more accurate representation of the state of gambling in Kenya is the money spent by gamblers and bettors in the country.

Tech giants Safaricom recently revealed that Kenyans spent an eye-popping Ksh. 169.1 billion on bets placed through M-Pesa during the 12 month period leading up to March 2022.

There is nothing wrong with trying your luck with sports betting and gambling- if it’s done in a controlled and responsible way- but that is not the case with the majority of Kenyan bettors.

People bet for different reasons, some for the thrills and entertainment, but most bettors in Kenya bet out of a desperation to make money.

In today’s world, young Kenyans have become so impatient and want to get rich very quickly. Online sports betting is the number one avenue to easy money, at least so it seems on paper.

Unfortunately, the reality of betting is very different. Making money from gambling is not that easy.

Sadly, many bettors realise this too late, and are too far gone down the road to turn back or retrace their steps. Some just want to recover the money they already lost to betting, while others remain adamant in their beliefs that they will someday hit the big bucks. 

Either way, both of these sets of bettors have already crossed the addiction line.

There are some early tell-tale signs of betting addiction.

The moment you start to chase after your losses, you are beginning to lose the plot. It is often said that you should only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Don’t gamble with money you have set aside for something more important, or money you have borrowed. 

Before you place a bet, you must accept that the money may be gone forever. Of course, losing money is never nice, but it is the classic risk-reward theory that comes with gambling.

When it starts to hurt financially and mentally, then it’s time to take a break.

If your response is to keep betting in order to recover lost funds, then you are shifting towards problem gambling. From this point, the more you go on, the deeper you sink into addiction.

Some addicts even increase their stake amount in their bid to recoup lost funds. This is why you need to always set a betting limit on your bookmaker. This is a function available on many of the top betting sites in Kenya.

Unless you have a bigger income or you have some additional funds from somewhere, you should never increase your limit. Doing so could be a sign of addition.

Betting is not exactly something you should boast about, but neither is it something you should be ashamed of. 

You should be able to discuss your betting habits freely, as long as you are doing it legally. The Kenyan society has become more receptive to the concept of gambling.

If you are too concerned about other people finding out that you gamble, then you may have to take another look at what you are doing. Perhaps you have been irresponsible with your betting habits and feel embarrassed to disclose it.

In that case, you need to stop or get some help.

It is important for Kenyan bettors to understand the need for responsible gambling, and pause when they start sliding into the dangerous waters of addiction.