Sociologists hold seminar on the dangers of betting

One of reasons why the University of Malawi remains a dynamic location of academic activity is its continuing engagement with international institutions and scholars. On 6th December, 2023, the Department of Sociology and Population Studies from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted Dr. Christopher Bunn, a senior lecturer from the University of Glasgow and a Senior Social Scientist at the Malawi Epidemiological and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU). He delivered an insightful and captivating presentation titled “Sociological and Public Health Perspectives on the Rise of Commercial Gambling in Malawi” to both students and staff members.

During his presentation, Dr. Bunn elaborated on the emergence and growth of gambling in Malawi, giving examples from local gambling platforms such as Premier Bet and Betway. He explained some of the reasons why gambling is considered a health issue. He pointed out that while gambling appears as a quick way to earn a living, especially among the youth in Malawi, some users become addicted to gambling, leading to significant financial troubles, and emphasized that gambling produces related harms.

“I have observed a relentless surge in daily gambling activities, which bears significant public health consequences worldwide,” he remarked. “Communities are exposed to harmful products, resulting in frequent experiences of gambling-related harms. I made this presentation to raise awareness about the deceptive nature of gambling corporations’ products. It is crucial for people to understand that relying on gambling to solve financial problems is misguided. While it may offer entertainment to some, the potential harms are more than the benefits,” he remarked.

Dr. Chris Bunn concluded his presentation by explaining how betting gives rise to various problems. He emphasized that it leads to family conflicts, the collapse of businesses, laziness, increased levels of school dropouts, as well as heightened stress and anxiety.

Ulemu Lukhanda, a 4th-year student pursuing Social Science (Social Work), expressed how significant the presentation was for his studies. He commended Dr. Bunn for addressing an insightful and captivating topic.

“As a social worker, I strongly oppose underage betting since the consequences of this practice are harmful to the development of the child. The more we allow cases of underage betting to increase, the more we are fostering the creation of future irresponsible citizens in the country,” he said.

In agreement with Dr. Bunns’ presentation, several students on campus pursuing various programs expressed the harmful effects of gambling. Some students shared their betting experiences, while others recounted stories of how they observed their friends becoming addicted to gambling. Mr Matthews Phiri, a second-year Bachelor of Laws student, noted that many of his friends are constantly betting online, which has resulted in them lacking time to spend with friends, ultimately leading to broken relationships. Comments continued, with many students adding that gambling has contributed to poor academic performance due to issues with time management.

After the presentation, Mr. Austin Ndala, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, commended Dr. Bunn. He stated that the University has a duty to address the issues of gambling that societies face every day. Furthermore, he stated that the presentation was significant for both the staff members in the department and the University, providing valuable insights for future research in similar areas.