Africa

Cameroon Gambling – youth and old going-gaga over new gaming machines

Published

6 years ago

March 1, 2018

Cameroon Gambling – youth and old going-gaga over new gaming machines

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The China coin operated tabletop gambling machines have become so much in vogue in most parts of Cameroon, with youth going gaga-over and turning out to be the main users.Playing games of chance have become the latest fad in most towns and villages in the country. With FCFA 100, small attractive machines stationed in roadside shops and beer parlours in the nooks and corners of the country has become an epicentre of attraction for both young and old as huge masses line up in front of them in order to make money.

When Cameroon Tribune (CT) called on some of the towns and villages in the country found out that many young people are fascinated and hooked up to these machines. Most operators wish to conceal about the gambling business and how the machines got into their shops. During a trip to the Mintom Sub-division in the Dja and Lobo Division in the South Region, CT reporters met a throng of youth inserting FCFA 100 coins into one of such machines. When asked the name of the machine and the reasons for the different football teams written on the machine, none of them had an answer. Information on the machines is written in English Language, in some cases with erroneous spelling such as football being spelt as “foorball”. The only thing most Mintom youths, just like those in other neighbourhoods in Yaounde could say about the gambling machine is where to insert FCFA 100, the start button and the “retreat” button in case the machine indicates you have won some coins which could be between one coin (FCFA 100) to 50 coins or FCFA 5,000.

CT gathered that the name of the machine is China coin operated table top gambling machines. On these machines, is written only old or new FCFA 100 coins are accepted with a warning: “not for persons under 18 years”.It is a portable machine that carries the names of popular football teams in the world such as Chelsea, FC Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus and Cameroon in some. Each team is found several times on the playing board, representing a particular number of coins. If an individual picks a team which is later selected by the machine as the winning team, the machine tells you the number of coins that team represents. If the selected team does not match with what the machine selects, the player loses. One of such machines is found in a roadside shop at the Mvog-Atangana Mballa neighbourhood in Yaounde. The owner of the shop refused to comment on how he got the machine. All he said was that the operator of the machine is not around. When asked the contacts of the operator, the shopkeeper said he does not have. After some days, the machine was no longer available at the spot.

At another neighbourhood in Yaounde, the bar attendant who refused to be identified said the machine belongs to “Chinese people”. When asked the contacts of the “Chinese people” he replied that they do not speak French or English and that one can only talk to them through an interpreter. But he needed the consent of the interpreter before handing his contacts to CT reporters, a thing he has not been ready to do so far. However, a bar operator said the machines were brought into the country by some Chinese businessmen residing in the Elig-Essono neighbourhood in Yaounde.

As CT reporters tried to know the exact location of the businessmen, the bar owner quickly said: “They are in a home, not an open shop.” Before placing the machines in any shop or bar, the Chinese partner gets into a deal with the bar owner to give them 30 percent of profit each time they come to empty the content of the machines.

The machine is computerised and programmed by the Chinese. The machine records the number of coins inserted and the number of players that won. Thus, each week a Chinese is seen collecting the machine to withdraw the numerous coins of FCFA 100 left within. These machines have become the best playground for many young people in the country. Some of them, in their school attire, are seen gambling for several hours. Recently in Yaounde around the Soa neighbourhood, the forces of law and order went on the offensive to rid the area of these machines.

Source: cameroon-tribune.cm

Africa

PSL Partners with Betway to Launch Betway Premiership

Published

2 days ago

July 29, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has announced Betway, South Africa’s leading online sports and gaming brand, as the premier division’s new title sponsor.

The premier division of football will now be known as the Betway Premiership.

Chairman of the Premier Soccer League, Dr Irvin Khoza, said: “This is a massive boost for every lover of football in this country. Our partnership with Betway confirms our league’s standing as one of the best in the world and heralds a wonderful future for our game. Betway’s energy and enthusiasm will have immediate impact across all facets of the game, and on behalf of the PSL, I am proud to welcome them on board as title sponsor and partner.”

“Football is a fundamental part of South African life. It really is in our blood and has been for generations. We are incredibly proud to be the title partner of the Betway Premiership. It further demonstrates not only our respect of the history of the league, but our vision for the development for its future. The PSL aligns with our values as a brand that commonly champions great South African success stories,” Betway Africa chief executive Laurence Michel said.

Formally established in 1996, but with roots that go back nearly a century, the Premier Soccer League is indisputably the most popular sporting competition in South Africa, with legendary characters, dearly-loved clubs and rivalries that capture the essence of football and culture in the country.

Michel explained that the Betway Premiership will lean heavily on the legacy and rich history of a football league already entrenched as one of the top ten domestic league competitions in the world and is excited by what the future holds for football in South Africa.

Michel said: “We appreciate how much football has done for people and for our country. As we begin this partnership, we want to acknowledge and celebrate what the game has accomplished in the past. We also want to enhance the game as it stands today and, most importantly, we want to help build an even better future for the next generation of footballing stars from this country.”

Michel added: “We are so excited by what this partnership will do for football fans in South Africa. As a brand, we are known globally for our sponsorships of the world’s biggest clubs and tournaments and that experience is going to play a huge part in driving the PSL forward.”

This partnership further reaffirms the brand’s commitment to the South African sporting industry. It is the latest addition to an enviable sporting partnership portfolio, which spans across a number of sports, which also includes the world champion Springboks, as well as the Betway SA20.

Africa

Xprizo partners with 4BetNow to power growth in Kenya

Published

2 days ago

July 29, 2024

George Miller

Xprizo partners with 4BetNow to power growth in Kenya

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Xprizo, a cutting-edge iGaming fintech platform, has partnered with pioneering sports betting operator 4BetNow to drive its expansion in the regulated Kenyan market.

4BetNow recently launched its retail and online operation in Kenya, with the company having major expansion plans for the country. This collaboration brings together intuitive technology and unparalleled expertise, setting a new standard in the gaming and payment solutions industry.

Integrating Xprizo’s fintech service makes it seamless for 4BetNow customers to deposit and withdraw local currencies. Thanks to Xprizo’s existing integration with M-PESA, users can access the very popular mobile money service easily within a single interface.

Xprizo CVO Richard Mifsud followed: “We’re thrilled to go live with 4BetNow in Kenya and look forward to playing a key role within its expansion plans. Xprizo prides itself on providing unmatched fintech services that connect people, particularly where traditional payment solutions are scarce. New 4BetNow customers will also be able to benefit from a unique cash-back offer as they sign up for the service.”

Xprizo’s integration with 4BetNow will empower Kenyan users with secure, reliable, and efficient solutions. Additionally, the project will bridge critical gaps in the payment ecosystem, notably facilitating seamless cross-border transactions and providing the operator with an invaluable tool for local operations.

4BetNow spokesperson said: “Being able to leverage Xprizo’s exceptional payment ecosystem will allow us to provide our Kenyan customers with a fast, secure and frictionless experience.”

Africa

CSA Appoints IMG ARENA as Official Data Supplier and Betting Live Streaming Partner

Published

2 weeks ago

July 19, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced IMG ARENA, OpenBet’s sports data and streaming products arm, as its exclusive official Cricket South Africa Data Supplier and Betting Live Streaming Partner.

IMG ARENA, in partnership with CricViz, will collect detailed data, both live and in-venue, for CSA’s domestic and international matches spanning a wide array of competitions, from bilateral series to domestic leagues.

Data for international matches will be gathered across Men’s and Women’s Test, ODI, and T20I formats, while domestic matches will see data collection for Men’s 4-day, 50 Over and T20, as well as the Women’s 50 Over and T20 formats. The data will then be distributed by IMG ARENA to more than 460 regulated sportsbook operators worldwide. IMG ARENA will also distribute live streams of CSA matches to the global betting industry.

Mark Wrigley, Vice President & Head of Rights at IMG ARENA, said: “IMG ARENA is serving fans and sportsbook operators across a wide breadth of sports and markets around the world. Alongside CricViz, we’re excited to partner with Cricket South Africa to bring fans the ultimate sportsbook experience incorporating reliable, informed data and live streaming.”

CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki, said: “Our partnership with IMG ARENA is poised to revolutionise the way detailed data is collected, both live and in-venue. This collaborative endeavour will introduce South African cricket to a fresh betting audience, and we are extremely excited about this opportunity. We are collectively shaping the future of sports data collection and broadcasting, setting new standards of excellence in the industry.”

The deal further diversifies IMG ARENA’s portfolio of data and streaming rights, adding CSA to its breadth of sports properties including soccer, tennis, golf, basketball, mixed martial arts and more.