Football Betting:Source Of Riping Money

IF Ugandan soccer fans are cheering more loudly these days as English Premiership teams play, it may not entirely be over the scores.

The fellows you find cursing may actually be supporters of the winning team. For the reactions at the scores these days have a lot to do with the millions, perhaps billions of shillings that are being won and lost at the end of every match. And this may account for the rise in the number of soccer fans.It may not necessarily because the game is becoming more popular but more profitable.

Thousands of Ugandans have found prosperity over just 90 minutes (plus injury time) in sports betting over the last one year.

Many, who did not care about soccer, are now ardent followers of the big European leagues. For it can make the difference between wealth and poverty. This follows the entry of big gaming companies into the industry over the last eight months.

Daily Monitor has encountered people who have made over Shs10 million in a matter of weeks, and some who have won such eight digit figures on just one weekend.

Some have built houses while others have funded weddings out of funds earned that way. And they are still winning. But there are losers as well, although few will admit that they threw away a month's salary on an unlucky weekend of bets.

There are more than five betting companies in the country, the largest being Sports Betting Africa (SBA) and Simba Casino Betting. Each company pays out tens of millions each week to lucky clients.

SBA, which invested $2m or Shs3.4b in the industry, revolutionarised the industry when they introduced more than 100 betting terminals across the country in June, 2007.

Avowed punter only known as Mansoor is in no doubt about the benefits of gaming. He has won more than Shs10 million over the last three months and even performed a kwanjula (introduction ceremony) with his longtime fiancée using the proceeds from betting.

"I have been winning ever since Simba Casino opened. I win every week. Betting has offered me an excellent opportunity to tap into my knowledge of football," he said. Mr Mansoor spoke to Daily Monitor soon after collecting Shs3.2 million in prize money.

He successfully predicted that Manchester United and Chelsea would win their English Premiership games against Fulham and West Ham respectively and staked Shs1.5 million on the two teams.

A European diplomat, who preferred anonymity because of his status, has been a consistent winner at Simba Casino. Two weeks ago, he won Shs14 million after staking Shs500,000.

He told Daily Monitor that the secret to enjoying 'success' is in understanding that sports betting is "just a game" in which you can win or lose.

SBA Chief Executive Officer Simon Mpanga said over Shs200 million has been paid out since the company started operations in Uganda and refused to admit that sports betting is gambling. Daily Monitor could not independently verify the amount paid out.

"Sports betting is both gambling and scientific business. Controlled gambling is safe and we are happy to be the only legally recognized gambling house," he said. Speaking at his office at Mukwano Arcade, Mr Mpanga also refused to commit himself on whether the company is enriching or impoverishing Ugandans.

"We have created over 300 jobs - 150 directly and 150 through outsourcing. I think we have made a good investment in infrastructure in what is a new industry to the country," he said. So is betting scratch for cash?

Punter Adam Ssali has won just Shs300, 000 to date but is in no doubt about the benefits of the industry. "I think betting is not what most people think as in gambling.

It's simply a brain game," he said. As far as I know it is a source of income for some people though others just gamble on games without thinking about them and end up losers," Mr Ssali told Daily Monitor at the Garden City headquarters of Simba Casino.The three other betting houses in Uganda, include Great Bet, King's Bet and King's Place also operating in Kampala's central business district.

How it is done

Winning is based on odds, which reward those with huge figures to stake. Stronger teams tend to attract small amounts of money while less predictable games have higher odds but are more risky. Betting rewards those with enough "capital".