NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 16 – The proportion of Kenyans who depend on betting as a source of income dropped by 50 per cent in 2021, a new survey by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows.
The 2021 FinAccess Household Survey Report published on Wednesday indicated that respondents who identified betting as a source of income declined from 22.7 per cent in 2019 to 11.2 per cent in 2021.
Further, the survey noted that the average amount used for betting per week declined from Sh2,559 in 2019 to Sh939 in 2021 representing a 63 per cent decline.
Even so, the findings of the survey indicated that 13.9 percent of respondents actively engaged in betting in 2021, with 18.4 per cent of those who bet living in urban areas and 11.4 percent in rural areas.
The report also indicated a decline in the frequency of betting per day to 15.9 per cent in 2021 from 22.6 per cent in 2019. The weekly frequency fell from 51.7 per cent to 41.4 per cent.
However, monthly and occasional betting increased to 8 per cent and 22.2 per cent from 6.9 per cent and 17.1 per cent, respectively.
The central bank attribute the trends to measures by government to combat gambling.
“This could be partly attributed to the Government’s deliberate measures to combat irresponsible and illegal betting in 2019 and increased public awareness against betting,” CBK noted.
The survey also sought to find the extent of use of mobile money accounts for gaming.
Overall, 2.6 per cent of mobile money account users, were reported to be using their accounts for the betting.
Further, the survey noted that betting conducted through mobile money accounts was higher among males and persons aged 18- 25 years at 4.2 percent and 4 per cent, respectively.
The frequency of betting increased with age but the amount declined.
The study established that respondents who participate in betting and aged 55 years and above bet 49 times a week on average with stakes averaging Sh735.
