Eswatini police warns of rising gambling addiction among youths
Constable Hlobsile Malambe noted that many youths caught up in betting have resorted to stealing to sustain their gambling habits.
Eswatini.- The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has expressed alarm over the rising popularity of gambling among the nation’s young people, with the Aviator crash-style betting game emerging as a particular concern.
Speaking at the Eswatini National Youth Council’s Mindset Change Programme, Constable Hlobsile Malambe, from the Buhleni Police Station’s crime prevention unit, cautioned that gambling addiction is increasingly contributing to theft, broken trust at home and at work, and broader social problems in northern Hhohho.
Malambe noted that many youths caught up in betting have resorted to stealing money from parents and employers to sustain their gambling habits. The Eswatini police reports an uptick in such cases, reflecting wider regional patterns where gambling-related harms contribute to financial distress and crime among vulnerable groups.
The increase in online gambling participation in Eswatini mirrors strong growth in the wider gambling industry, which recorded a 17 per cent rise in gaming revenue in 2025, largely driven by mobile and online platforms. Despite the revenue growth, lawmakers and community leaders have voiced concern that the social costs are becoming more severe.
Malambe said sustained gambling not only destroys futures but also breaks trust within families and workplaces, urging youths to channel their energies into entrepreneurship and vocational training rather than chasing quick winnings. She encouraged those with business ideas to take proactive steps toward building sustainable livelihoods instead of remaining ensnared in betting platforms.
Leaders at the programme, including Mayiwane Magolide Ndwandwe, stressed the role of inkhundla councils and development funds in supporting youth initiatives that offer alternatives to gambling.
ENYC Communication Officer Sibongakonkhe Dlamini added that combating unemployment and gambling dependency requires partnerships across government, the private sector and civil society to expand internships, jobs and skills programmes.
