LETTER FROM ADDIS ABABA

The madness of sports gambling is making headlines in Ethiopia. Having grown into a real addiction for many young Ethiopians, this form of betting is being targeted by authorities, who are now threatening to simply ban them. In late June, Abebe Haimanot, the head of youth affairs at the Ministry of Social Affairs, issued a warning to operators in an interview on national television. He said gambling was causing a social crisis by “discouraging young people from working and taking control of their lives” and “leading to depression and suicidal thoughts.” The ministry is keen to put an end to it, even though it has yet to specify a deadline.

It’s a difficult task as the government will have to face not only pressure from gambling lobbies but also from the population, as sports betting has become deeply rooted in Ethiopian life in less than a decade. From the capital Addis Ababa to the provinces, gambling shops are popping up on every city’s street corner. There are now more than 2,000 of them across Ethiopia.

You only need to walk a few steps in Piassa, the capital’s historic district, to come across dozens of small counters belonging to one of the 44 licensed operators in the country. In the cramped space of Vamos Betting, the four computers are constantly being used. The players, all of them young, wait in the lobby until a seat becomes available. It is not uncommon to come across police officers on duty or high school and university students, despite the legal ban on gambling before the age of 21.

‘Students are abandoning their studies’

29-year-old Mintesinote presented the eight tickets he had in his hand. “Today is special because it’s Champions League night,” he said. For this special occasion, he bet 400 birrs (€7.50) on about 30 matches, a considerable sum for this construction worker. Although he won 9,000 birrs in bets in August, he “usually loses more money than he wins.”

He even confessed to squandering his entire winnings by betting every day for a month. “When you win once, it’s exhilarating. You think you’re the best. You dream about it at night. You reinvest and you lose it all,” he said, furious at the idea that the government could ban what has become his favorite pastime.

In the darkened room, his eyes glued to the screen, a young man named Dawit bet on about 20 football games, including teams he’s never heard of. The 22-year-old driver has recently gotten caught in the game, making betting money part of his daily routine, even though he said, “Sports betting is stupid. Even if you win money, you never spend it on your future or your family.” Like him, several of his friends have become “real addicts” and “crazy about betting.” One of them even sold his car to free up some cash.

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