Malawi authorities hold responsible gambling roadshow at Chikonde Market
The event forms part of MAGLA’s broader efforts to promote responsible gambling. Since early 2025, the authority has implemented measures banning under-18s from gambling.
Malawi.- The Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA), together with the South West Region Police, held a responsible gambling roadshow at Chikonde Market, warning Neno District residents that gambling is not a solution to financial hardship.
Deputy Public Relations Officer Beatrice Mikuwa addressed residents and traders at the gathering, making it clear that betting should only be done with money left over after household expenses are paid. She said: “Money for gambling and betting should be what is left after paying all bills, so that if you lose it, you do not regret it.”
She pointed out that those who develop compulsive betting habits often find themselves in serious personal trouble. They may turn to robbery, acts of gender-based violence or loans they cannot repay. In the worst cases, some have taken their own lives after losing money they could not afford.
A representative of the Chikonde Market committee, James Biliyati Mulongolola, welcomed the police and MAGLA team. He called for closer cooperation between parents and betting operators to protect children. Mulongolola said operators must prevent anyone under 18 from taking part in any form of betting. He reminded the crowd that the law provides for a penalty of 20 million Malawi kwacha (€9,800) or a jail term for anyone who allows children to gamble.
The event forms part of MAGLA’s broader efforts to promote responsible gambling. Since early 2025, the authority has implemented measures banning under-18s from gambling and requiring operators to keep children out of betting areas.
By taking the message directly to the market, police and MAGLA aim to encourage safer choices among parents, traders and young adults, and to raise awareness of support services for those affected by problem betting.
