By Amadou Manjang
Each morning, before brushing his teeth or even greeting his family, 22-year-old Musa reaches for his phone. His eyes scan the betting app as he checks whether his wager from the night before hit the jackpot or added to a growing list of losses.
“I started betting when I was 11,” he said, shifting nervously in his seat in a small internet café on the outskirts of Serekunda. “My friend’s older brother taught us. He was like a role model. I wanted to be like him.”
Musa’s story is far from unique in The Gambia, where a growing number of young people are turning to sports betting — often compulsively — in search of fast cash, escape, or simply out of peer pressure. Betting shops and mobile gambling platforms are proliferating, quietly shaping a social shift that is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
Though former President Yahya Jammeh banned all forms of gambling in 2015, including lotteries and casinos, the incoming government lifted that ban in 2017. Since then, the industry has returned with a vengeance. Betting parlours have mushroomed across towns, while mobile apps like Bwinners, 1xBet, and Gambit have gained a stronghold among the youth.
“There were lines outside betting shops the day the ban was lifted,” said a resident of Westfield. “It was like they were waiting to breathe again.”
The re-emergence of betting has introduced convenience with mobile technology. According to a recent study, 75 per cent of Gambian gamblers now prefer mobile betting, citing ease of use, fast cash-outs, and anonymity as primary motivators.
From Pocket Change to Lost Futures
Sheriff, a 26-year-old aspiring migrant, said he places bets at least twice a day. He began gambling online in 2021, hoping to win enough to pay for his passage across the Mediterranean. So far, he said, his biggest win was D12,000 — a rare moment of triumph amid frequent losses.
“I want to go to Europe. Betting is my only plan,” he admitted. “But the more I lose, the more I play. I think I’m addicted.”
Lamin, 20, started betting at 16. A full-time student, he said he sometimes skips lunch to afford the D50 dalasis he spends weekly on bets. His total winnings over four years amount to D5,000 — two modest victories of D3,000 and D2,000, respectively. “I check scores all day,” he said. “Even during classes. I’ve failed exams because of betting.”
He recalled spending hours on apps like Bwinners, playing not only football bets but also virtual games like Aviator and horse races. “They let you bet as low as D1, but that’s how it starts,” Lamin said. “Now I can’t stop.”
Malick, 27, said he once won D8,500 in a single weekend, only to lose it back the following week. “Every time I say I’ve quit, I see my friends betting and I go back,” he said. “I’ve lost too much. But quitting feels like giving up on recovering that money.”
Alagie, 29, estimates he has lost over D30,000 in accumulated bets. “I keep thinking of all the money I’ve lost,” he said. “I want to stop, but I feel like if I win once, I can recover everything.”
Experts warn that such behaviour fits the pattern of addiction. Dr Nyang, a psychologist in Banjul, said that compulsive gamblers often experience the same dopamine cycles as drug users. “The brain starts to crave the thrill,” he explained. “Winning or losing becomes secondary — it’s the chase.”
Easy Access, Little Oversight
Despite a legal age limit of 18, many Gambians start betting in their early teens — some even earlier. None of the young bettors interviewed for this report recalled being asked for ID when opening accounts online.
“There is no real age verification,” Lamin confirmed. “Just a phone number and a username. That’s it.”
Sheriff echoed a similar concern: “Even a 10-year-old can bet. There are kids in my neighbourhood who do it every day.”
Field visits to betting agents in Bundung and Tallinding revealed boys in school uniforms placing bets while agents turned a blind eye. Some said they were running errands for their uncles; others admitted they were playing with their lunch money.
Authorities have yet to announce a regulatory framework for online betting, and no active monitoring appears to exist to enforce age restrictions or promote responsible gambling.
The Social Cost of a Silent Epidemic
While sports betting promises quick wins, the long-term consequences are becoming apparent. Several young men admitted to stealing from relatives or selling household items to fund their habits. Others have borrowed from loan sharks or gone into debt, chasing losses they never recover.
“I used my father’s shop money once,” Musa admitted. “He found out. I got beaten. I promised to stop, but I played again the next week.”
Gambling addiction is often accompanied by shame, isolation, and declining academic or job performance. Mental health professionals warn that untreated gambling problems can lead to depression, substance abuse, and even criminal activity.
“Many of these young people are lost in a loop,” said Dr. Nyang. “They are chasing dreams in an industry designed to make them lose.”
A Void in Policy and Protection
Despite the growing crisis, The Gambia lacks a gambling regulatory body with real enforcement capacity. There is no national addiction helpline. Schools do not offer awareness programs, and public campaigns promoting responsible gambling are rare.
“The government is silent,” said a social worker in Brikama. “Meanwhile, a whole generation is getting hooked.”
Activists and community leaders have begun sounding the alarm, calling for age verification mechanisms, betting limits, and dedicated addiction treatment programs. But without political will and regulation, the problem is likely to worsen.
“I don’t want to bet forever,” said Musa, staring blankly at his phone. “But I don’t know how to stop.”
Gambians are not allowed by law to gamble at the Casinos. The Betting and Gaming Act makes it an offence for a Gambian to gamble. The Gambia has laws governing the establishment and operation of casinos and betting centres, but the laws are not enforced. If a Gambian is caught gambling at casinos and taken to court, if found guilty by a court, the person will pay a fine of One Thousand Dalasi (D1,000) or imprisonment of not more than two years. The court could choose to fine the person and also jail the offender. If the offender is the casino owner or proprietor, the person will pay a fine of Two Thousand Dalasi (D2,000) or imprisonment of not more than two (2) years. The court can ask the person to pay the fine and then send him to jail. The law has not been enforced.
