Chinese gambling machines ruining our children

Few years ago, the word gambling was strange to the majority of Kenyans but today it’s a household name. Gambling was reserved for the filthy rich individuals who reside in the urban areas; currently, it has not discriminated any individual‘s gender, location i.e. deep in the rural areas or in the CBDs, the rich or the poor, the young or the old.

With the introduction of the Chinese gambling machines, the gambling industry has been fueled further. Leave for the sports betting which regulates the age limit, this one doesn’t consider that. Anyone can gamble. I have seen kids as young as 10 years old standing by these machines and slot in Sh.20, Sh.40 or Sh.60 in bid to gain more.

As much as these machines have a great negative impact on the society at large, let me dwell on its effect on the children. No concrete regulatory laws have been laid down as far as this ‘game’ is concerned. In many instances, you will find school going children by these machines not admiring but performing real gambling. In fact, in some cases you will find them at these places at school hours. Where do they get the money from? What do they do with the money? Do they concentrate on their books?  Is this the way we want to bring up our kids?

Our society has become so “money maniac” that the wellbeing of our kids is never prioritized. In one instance I tried to ask one customer (12 years old) at the gambling machine why he was not in school. “Ona msee, usijaribu kuingilia bizna yangu” (Look, don’t get involved in my business). That was the response I got from the gambling machine attendee.

By the way, is Kenya Betting and Licensing Control Board aware of this? And oh I forgot do they remit tax to the taxman?

It’s high time the government employ stringent rules to curb this gambling menace especially among the children.