Sports betting has positive and negative sides and if proper measures are not taken the latter can be overwhelming. Ethiopia is one of the many countries that have been plagued by the negativity attracted by sports betting. This has resulted in the movement to completely obliterate sports betting in the country.
Abebe Haymanot has announced “that work was underway to get sports betting banned”. He further added that the ministry isn’t alone as “various movement and discussion platforms” are showing support against sports betting. He termed it as “degradation of sports”.
Abebe Haymanot, a representative of the Ministry focused on youth development
The ministry expressed their concerns because the result of a survey conducted shows that sports betting is detrimental to youths. Some of the problems include: “reducing productivity and causing psychological problems such as anxiety, depression and suicide.”
The ministry, at the beginning of the year, took avid steps to ensure the government banned sports betting. However, their plan became dead in the waters due to the opposition from local operators. In the operator’s defense “betting is not gambling”.
The ministry simply responded by citing how irresponsible the betting industry has handled its affairs. The betting industry has flouted age restriction rules as “students donning their school uniform have been spotted in betting dens”.
In 2020, the government established new laws towards tax and licensing in the betting industry. This seems to be ineffective as the ministry claims that the National Lottery Administration (NLA) isn’t capable of properly monitoring the betting shops.
The legislative change in 2020 accounted for the separation of sports betting from lottery licensing. The responsibility of obtaining license fell on the betting firms as they were ordered by NLA to secure individual licenses.
Nevertheless, the NLA defended itself by saying it never dropped the ball. It added that its duties were properly conducted by making sure taxes were paid and licensing was thoroughly examined. Bookmakers and operators pay a 15% tax on monthly winnings and a 0.5% contribution dedicated towards social welfare.
In conclusion, the solution to the overwhelming negative effect of sports betting isn’t an outright ban. Instead, the government should establish a body majorly responsible for throwing the books at irresponsible operators. Operators who are found culpable for negligence should be severely fined and suspended.