Zim women turn to sports betting
… as poverty bites
STAFF WRITER
Desperate to escape the grip of poverty, Zimbabwean women are turning to sports betting as a survival strategy.
Many see it as their only hope in a country struggling with economic instability.
What was once a pastime for men has now drawn women in large numbers.
Many visit betting shops twice a day, placing wagers on the popular ‘two, three numbers’ option. Winning can mean a life-changing payout.
Sports analyst Praise Dumi Dhlakama explained the rising trend.
“The situation in the country is tough. People are doing it out of desperation and not for pleasure. The challenge is that sports betting is very addictive, mental health issues can rise due to stress, and you find that’s why the number is escalating even though at the end of the day, only a few win.”
“People want to be that one person, so they tend to continue visiting the betting shop. They need to know that gambling and match-fixing are two common words that are interwoven in sports. Going forward, something needs to be done to address the issue of uncontrolled gambling.”
Women have taken a collective approach to sports betting. They form groups, analyse past results, and share winnings.
Some even rely on dreams for their number choices.
Ms Amanda Dube, a member of one such group, shared their strategy:
“We are a group of six women. Whatever we win, we share. So we sit down, analyse the numbers that have been regularly popping up, then select them and mix them with today’s date. All of us get choose different numbers and place our tickets. It can be a bad day or a good day, but we always salvage something.”
She explained that betting is a side hustle, not her main source of income:
“I am a vendor by profession. Betting, to me, is a side hustle that I don’t rely on because sometimes you lose and sometimes you win. I was introduced to this by my neighbour. It’s like a round ladies’ club, and we all walk away happy at the end of the week.”
Betting As A Business Opportunity
With unemployment at an all-time high, many families turn to informal trading for survival. For some, sports betting is seen as a business opportunity.
One regular gambler, who preferred to be called ‘MaNdlo’, shared her experience:
“I sell scones and cupcakes around town, mostly at the terminus, and to me, betting is something I practice at least four times a week. I see it as a business opportunity. The money I sometimes win covers my expenses.”
She highlighted a recent win:
“Last week, I played three numbers and won 550 rands. The money helped me buy ingredients for my business, like flour, sugar, and milk. But this week, luck is not on my side. Per week, I usually spend something like 80 rands on betting, but the returns are good if you win within those two weeks.”