MAGLA champions responsible gambling to curb risks

Chuma: People should not see gambling or lotteries as a form of sin, it is part of fun and entertainment and we expect media practitioners to help us reach the community to remove those misconceptions
The Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) is stepping up efforts to promote responsible gaming to prevent gambling problems and demystify gambling as the sector is expected to continue growing.
The betting, gambling, and lotteries regulatory body has been interfacing with various stakeholders including the media from the southern, central, and northern regions to sensitize them about the industry so they can help carry messages on responsible gambling to the public.
Speaking during the interface with members of Nyika Media Club (NMC) on Thursday, MAGLA Acting Director of Legal and Regulatory Services Owen Chuma stressed the role of the media in advocating for responsible gambling in the country.
“The estimated revenue growth in the world for the gambling industry is estimated at $700 billion by 2028, and as such we anticipate that there will be problems with gambling as people will not have control over gambling. So, as a precaution, we are trying to teach the media so they can carry the message to the people to avoid gambling problems,” Chuma said.
He added; “I was talking about issues to do with taking breaks as they are gambling, use disposable income, meaning they should not use money for basic needs for gambling because we are saying gambling should be a form of entertainment or fun and not a source of income because some people are taking gambling as a source of employment.”
“We have seen some people waking up in the morning, and all they know and do is betting, gaming, and lotteries but we want to avoid that, people should take gambling as a source of fun or entertainment,” Chuma said.
Chuma further challenged the media to help demystify betting, gaming, and lotteries, noting that despite the industry contributing a lot to the country’s economy and development, it is usually demonized.
“People have misconceptions about gambling and they demonize the industry,” he said. “But, as I am saying, gambling is contributing a lot to the development of this country. We pay about MK4.5 billion surplus cash to the government annually and at the same time we are involved in various corporate responsibility initiatives.”
“We are constructing health centers in remote villages in Mangochi and Kam’mwamba in Neno, and a sports arena in Mulanje. So, people should not see gambling or lotteries as a form of sin, it is part of fun and entertainment and we expect media practitioners to help us reach the community to remove those misconceptions,” Chuma said.
NMC Chairperson Feston Malekezo promised that journalists will do their part to enlighten communities on responsible gambling to protect them from gaming problems.
“MAGLA has enlightened us over a lot of things they are doing, things that we did not know,” Malekezo said. “As journalists, we have a responsibility in our hands, we have to protect our communities.”
“We have heard of responsible gambling. With irresponsible gambling, we have heard of many people committing suicide, others are sick mentally, and we have heard that MAGLA has a responsibility on their part where people can access medical help. These are things that people need to know, but, as journalists, if we are not aware, I think many people will also be in the dark,” he added.
“So, our responsibility is to go out there, tell the people who are gambling, that they have to do it for fun and not as a source of income. They have to gamble using the money that once they lose, they will not be bothered, which I think is key. But, if they take gambling as something that is there for them to earn a living, then that is disastrous,” Malekezo said.