In February 2025, authorities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, imposed a ban on sports betting. The authorities linked the sharp rise in thefts, robberies, and family conflicts to the negative impact of betting activities. This action, however, was taken only to address the symptoms of sports betting, while blatantly ignoring the causes. Sports betting in Africa is rapidly on the rise, and critics have warned that the activity is driven by widespread poverty, unemployment, and poor regulation. Rather than outright banning sports betting, African authorities must adopt a rights-centered approach to regulating the act. Governments must address systemic problems that push people into sports betting. Regulators and betting companies must also develop programs to educate the public about the risks associated with betting.
Revenue from Africa’s gambling market is projected to reach $20.43 billion in 2025 and $22.17 billion in market volume by 2029. The projected revenue increase makes it important for African countries to legalize and effectively regulate sports betting. Banning sports betting strips individuals of the liberty to make betting choices. By prohibiting sports betting, managers, operators, and shop owners also lose their sources of income. Also, national revenue generated from the sports betting industry will be lost if the ban is enforced.
For many in Addis Ababa, like in most African countries, gambling offers an escape from certain systemic problems. Instead of completely banning sports betting, governments across Africa must address the issues that push young people into addiction. Several empowerment programs already exist in Africa, yet most fail to tackle systemic issues like unemployment and long-term economic insecurity. In Nigeria, programmes like N-Power and YouWin have provided job training and modest income opportunities. However, these programs have had limited long-term impact due to corruption and a disconnect between vocational training and industry demands. Socioeconomic interventions in Africa must focus on empowering young people with relevant digital skills that meet current market needs. These initiatives must also be institutionalized as national policies, rather than short-term projects, to ensure scalability and sustainability. Rwanda’s National Employment Program institutionalizes skills acquisition and job creation across all sectors through partnerships between the government and the private sector. Rwanda’s program has helped to reduce unemployment from 18.8 percent in 2016 to around 13.4 percent by 2025. In countries where institutionalized programs already exist, empowerment programs must be well-funded and monitored to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.
Furthermore, one of the most overlooked drivers of gambling addiction in Africa is low betting literacy. Gamblers who lack adequate information on betting odds and risks are likely to fall into addiction. To address this addiction, regulatory bodies and betting companies must create betting literacy programmes. In the UK, authorities partnered with GamCare, a charity, to launch a betting program. GamCare was established in 1997 to raise awareness and aid those affected by gambling harms across Britain. Through outreach programs, workshops, and helplines, the charity has provided physical and virtual support to British gamblers. Regulatory authorities across Africa should also adopt effective public awareness campaigns and expert support to educate gamblers.
Banning sports betting stems from the assumption that young people cannot be trusted with their choices. However, just as financial literacy programs exist to help people adopt better financial practices, betting programs should be introduced to inform and educate young people across Africa.
Governments across Africa must address the root causes of addictive sports betting to reduce the reliance on the act as a means of survival. Ultimately, protecting young people and preserving individual freedom requires smarter regulations, not outright bans.
Edem Udofia is a writing fellow at African Liberty.
Article first appeared in The Cable.
Photo by Keenan Constance via Unsplash.