British betting companies and football clubs are \u201cluring\u201d hundreds of thousands of African children into an illegal gambling craze that Kenya\u2019s government says is \u201cdestroying\u201d their lives.<\/p>\n
Using techniques banned in the UK, the companies appeal to youngsters by using cartoon characters and free branded merchandise. At a British company\u2019s betting shops in the Nairobi slums, The Sunday Times witnessed children as young as 14 gambling freely, in breach of Kenyan law.<\/p>\n
Tracey Crouch, who resigned as sports minister in protest at the government\u2019s lack of action over gambling, said she was \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d at the revelations, adding: \u201cIt is reminiscent of the way that tobacco companies are seeking new markets among young people in Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Top English football clubs, which have millions of fans in Africa, are closely involved in the promotional efforts. Arsenal sent its former star, Sol Campbell, to Nairobi for children\u2019s coaching sessions with SportPesa, a Kenyan betting company that is its African sponsor. Hull City players went to a Nairobi shanty town, where they handed out SportPesa-branded wristbands and football strips to schoolchildren.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a> (subscription).<\/p>\n How British betting companies – and Premiership football clubs – get African children gamblinghttps:\/\/t.co\/c6Wo3hXFjw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Andrew Gilligan (@mragilligan) July 14, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n