Stakeholders urge responsible approach to gambling

TANZANIA: GAMBLING stakeholders have called on sports fans and the wider public to treat lottery and other games of chance as entertainment rather than a source of income, warning against excessive participation and the risk of addiction.

The call comes amid growing participation in gambling, particularly among young people who are increasingly attracted to games of chance in the hope of making quick financial gains.

Stakeholders say there is a need for continued public education to promote responsible participation and ensure that gambling is not mistaken for employment, business or investment.

ITHUBA Tanzania Market Assistant Officer, Richard Kimaro, said people participate in lottery games for different reasons, but stressed that the primary purpose of such activities is entertainment.

“Lottery games are for entertainment, not intended to provide someone with an income, encourage people to abandon their normal activities or serve as an investment,” Kimaro said yesterday.

He was speaking during the signing of a partnership agreement between National Lottery and Mainstream Group Media for the airing of a new lottery game, Main Pesa Lotto.

Kimaro said the company had introduced measures aimed at reducing excessive gambling and minimising the risk of addiction among players.

He also emphasised the importance of continuous public education, particularly among young people, to ensure they understand that games of chance cannot replace employment, business activities or legitimate investment.

“People should understand that gambling is based on chance and should not be regarded as a substitute for their normal economic activities,” he said.

His remarks are particularly relevant to the sporting community, where betting and gaming have become increasingly visible around major competitions and among sports followers.

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He added that participation should always be guided by personal limits and an understanding of the risks associated with excessive gambling.

Mainstream Group Executive Director, Deogratius Mosha, said the public needed continuous education on responsible gambling and the importance of setting personal limits.

Mosha said gambling should not be viewed as employment or an alternative to productive economic activities, urging people to maintain their livelihoods and investments rather than depending on games of chance.

He further stressed that companies operating in the gambling sector have a responsibility to complement the promotion of their products with messages encouraging responsible participation.

According to Mosha, sustained awareness campaigns would help communities distinguish between the entertainment value of gambling and the potential risks that come with excessive participation.

He said responsible participation should remain a shared responsibility between gaming companies, regulators, communities and individual players.

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