Gambling Holding Youths Hostage

It is apparently unusual; gambling is taking control over many youths. The economic hardships are persuading youths to look for easy ways of getting money to sustain themselves. Consistent gambling is even jeopardizing their health wellbeing. Once one loses a bet this always motivates them to play next time hoping to win.

It is with a notable concern to shade light about gambling situations that indulge this. Gambling activities such as lottery, casinos, vetting and games. Without judging any individual gambling cannot be recognized as full wrong but youths are not partially but fulltime engaged to betting, forgetting how fruitful it is to use their energy to be productive.

To be specific university and college students are undoubtedly held hostage by gambling. The better agenda or topic always is about how many odds a certain team has and more of the same. We have also realized that it is better for a comrade to sleep hungry but not fail to gamble.

There will be no fairness to fully blame gambling but economical exclusion is gathering a bigger portion to the reason why many of this youths practice gambling, considerably addiction is the issue. As mentioned consistent gamblers or we can call them pathological gamblers are getting more into depression than what they gain. Others have been involved in stealing; they are daily accumulating debts leading them into financial stress hence depression. Unfortunately as young as age 15 to 23 teens are highly affected from this.

Depression is threatening these youth’s lives it being a critical health matter. From that all the aftermaths are directed to the family members and the inner rings. Shockingly it also drags them into alcohol and drug abuse. It is worrying that some have lost weight, not eating well and always looking ill since the only thing occupying their minds is betting and not making any progress in life.

While passing across university premises and in the streets, some individuals are monitored carrying small papers and pens, for what? They use these papers in writing and analysing odds given to teams.  Their youngness always excites them, tempted suicide and death cases have been reported over as result of financial constraints where they need more than 50% to pay debts from their belongings.

By 2022, there were 100 gambling sites licensed by the government confirming that they have complied with laws in place on gambling. According to a study lottery sites are highly visited.

Now, what to do? It is clear that gamblers need to be sensitized not to indulge more than excess into gambling. Also the gambling sites should put restrictions on its reach and restrain under 18 years’ children. The government can also be part and parcel on implementing guidelines in collaboration with the gambling sites in order to secure economically oppressed individuals.

By Abraham Ong’uti and Tabitha Yatich,  Media Students at Rongo University