Economy cut in half since 2000
The government of Zimbabwe will no longer award gaming licenses. According to Bloomberg News, despite chronic joblessness and an economy that has lost half its value in the past 15 years, the southern African nation has seen a sharp rise in gambling.
“We need to control betting, because we can’t be betting everywhere,” said Deputy Home Affairs Minister Ziyambi. “There are now too many operators.”
Emily Kabaya, a betting shop manager in Harare, told Bloomberg, “We have different kinds of clients—some do it for fun and some for economic reasons,” Her shop, VegasBet Ltd., opened last year and plans to add new locations.
“My family survives from this,” said Blessing Moyo, an unemployed banker. “From one wager I got $2,700 and bought tiles for my house. My wife was initially against the idea, but she now realizes that it’s a new way of life.”
The country has an estimated unemployment rate of as much as 90 percent, counting those who are marginally employed
