In Senegal, a gambling wave driven by smartphones is quietly spreading, altering the life trajectories of countless young people. The proliferation of online gambling apps has turned the dream of "getting rich overnight" into a bait for traps, especially in cities like Dakar, Touba, and Saint-Louis, where sports betting is penetrating into every corner of society at an unprecedented rate and scale.
Once, gambling was confined to hidden small shops on the streets, known as "naarbi," and was subject to certain restrictions. Today, with the widespread use of mobile internet and smartphones, online gambling platforms like 1Xbet, Betclic, SunuBet, etc., have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, with advertisements filling the streets and alleys, and their interfaces designed to be simple and enticing, allowing users to place bets with just a few clicks.
These platforms attract a large number of young people with tempting promotions such as "register for gifts" and "bet to win big prizes," especially against a backdrop of high unemployment and economic pressure, making the youth demographic a major victim. Initially participating just to try it out, they fantasize about turning a small investment into a large return, only to find themselves deeply addicted without realizing it.
From entertainment to addiction, the cost is heavy
Sedina, a young person, is one of the many victims. He initially gambled just to pass the time, betting only a few hundred francs each time, but quickly fell into a cycle of gambling from which he could not extricate himself. He said, "We are already in a difficult situation, and it's easy to become dependent on these things." Two years ago, after witnessing many friends collapse due to gambling, he founded the "Anti-Sports Gambling Association" in an attempt to help others quit gambling through lectures and interventions.
He received a large number of requests for help, with many young people expressing regret and helplessness in their letters. They became estranged from friends and family, lost social connections, and accumulated debts, yet they were long unable to recognize that this was an addictive behavior that needed treatment.
"In order to continue betting, I even borrowed money from relatives and friends. In the end, I had to admit that I was addicted, but it was extremely difficult to completely break free," wrote one anonymous help-seeker.
The chain reaction of family breakdown and economic collapse
Gambling not only erodes individual mental health but also causes severe damage to families and society. Citizen Amadou recounted his nephew's experience: over five years, the young man squandered more than 200 million West African Francs (about 300,000 euros), not only embezzling funds from the family business but also borrowing externally to gamble.
"I gave him containers to sell, but he always delayed payment until creditors came to our door, and only then did we realize the severity of the problem," Amadou said.
This easily accessible gambling platform completely changes the risk threshold for gambling. Past behaviors that required going out and betting with cash can now be completed with just a few clicks on a smartphone. This convenience makes the problem more difficult to control and exacerbates addiction issues.
Lack of professional treatment, prevention becomes the only option
Writer and researcher Pap Samba Kane, who published a book exposing the dangers of gambling, "Deceptive Poker," as early as 2005 and included online gambling content in last year's reissue, pointed out that Senegal currently lacks a specialized gambling addiction treatment system, and the only addiction treatment center in the country does not have the capability to handle gambling addiction.
With no treatment mechanisms in place, Kane emphasizes, "Prevention is the only effective response." He suggests that an immediate comprehensive ban on gambling advertisements is the primary measure. "There are too many advertisements, too conspicuous, many of which feature popular celebrities as endorsers, undoubtedly posing a great temptation to young people."
Kane cites France as an example of the severity of the problem: "France has strict restrictions on gambling categories, and ordinary people have far fewer opportunities to encounter gambling than in Senegal." In Senegal, there are almost no restrictions, and anyone can easily access and participate.
Despite having submitted written recommendations to the government multiple times calling for enhanced regulation, he has yet to receive any response. "This is a tacit silence," he said.
