Sports is extremely popular among Africans, and football (soccer) stands out. Sports events provide African fans with not only fantastic enjoyment but also the possibility to gain money by placing sports bets. Many clever Africans profit handsomely from sports betting, and Internet sportsbooks such as Betway, bet365, etc. make it simple for them.
The ‘Black Continent’ is quickly becoming one of the world’s most lucrative sports betting markets, which is an interesting trend given that up to 40% of its population lives in poverty.
The Popularity of Sports Betting in Africa Through Facts
Operators of sports betting enterprises in Europe and the United States have already comprehended some of the facts we’re about to reveal, and they’re swiftly expanding into the African industry. As a result, world-famous online sportsbooks are becoming increasingly popular on the continent and are rated in relation to the market, i.e. country, to which they expanded so there’s the list of the most sought-after betting companies in Zambia at Bookmaker-Expert.com and similar others.
These are the facts:
- According to a recent study, 60 million Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40 participate in sports betting. They wager on sports on average for 3,000 Naira ($7) per day.
- According to government figures, more than half of all South African adults gamble on sports on a regular basis. In Southern, East, Central, and West Africa, the situation is similar.
- According to research, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa’s betting markets will be valued at more than $50 billion by 2023.
A lot of sports betting proponents claim that sports betting provides jobs for a huge number of young Africans while also allowing bettors to earn rapid money, providing tax revenue for governments, and contributing to the economic prosperity of various African countries.
Reasons Why Africans Are Betting in Greater Numbers
There are numerous motives that drive Africans to rush to bet and do so on sports and with amounts of cash that can be considered substantial compared to the standard of living in the continent. Sports betting companies from overseas are coming en masse to Africa, and they have a lot of reasons to go with the flow.
Explained below are a few of these reasons:
Unemployment Among Young People Is High
More than 200 million people in Africa are between the ages of 15 and 24, with the majority of them being unemployed. Unemployment rates in some African countries are as high as 25%. Furthermore, by 2050, Africa’s population is expected to double, and the continent will have the world’s greatest youth population.
The sports betting market allows these young individuals to make money while watching their favorite sporting events.
Sports Is Something They Really Love
Sports is quite popular among Africans. Despite the fact that football has the most admirers, cricket has a sizable following. Rugby is also quite popular in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Kenya. African supporters are enthusiastic about European football leagues, particularly the Spanish, English, Italian, and French leagues.
Africans also like betting on sports like basketball, tennis, auto racing, boxing, horse racing, motorbike racing, and other events. They are very enthusiastic about betting on match results, goal totals, and top scorers, among other things. Because of Africa’s passion for sports, the continent’s sports betting business is one of the most profitable in the world.
Sports Betting Laws That Are Tolerant
Because of the relaxed sports betting rules in most African countries, European and American sports betting companies are rapidly growing into the continent. South Africa is the only country in the world that has adequately regulated its gambling industry. Gambling regulations are new in most African countries, and the budding sector is unregulated.
There are extremes though. At the same time, there are regulated markets but also you have Muslim-majority African countries that have explicitly prohibited sports betting, making sports betting illegal on their soils. Gambling is, likewise, prohibited in Gambia, which bans all types of gambling, including sports betting, casinos, and lotteries.
Gambling on Mobile Devices Is Becoming Increasingly Popular
The use of mobile devices is increasing in Africa. Africans are increasingly discovering the pleasures of mobile sports betting. African sports betting companies have teamed with prominent mobile phone companies to link their sports betting products to mobile money services like M-Pesa, Orange Money, and Airtel Money. Accordingly, Africans use their smartphones and tablets in addition to their desktop computers to wager on sports.
The potential of making wagers on their mobile phones through African-focused Internet sports platforms has piqued the interest of young South African people.
Conclusion
Several African countries, including South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria, have world-famous betting operators on their turf. As previously stated, betting rules differ from country to country. While sports betting is prohibited in some countries, it’s a tightly regulated sector others like in Ghana and South Africa.
If you live in Africa, all you have to do is look up your country’s gambling rules and open an account with a selected bookmaker to start betting on your favorite sporting events.
