More than 50 foreign nationals under investigation as Eswatini illegal betting probe widens to Siteki
Residents said some gambling activities were carried out openly, with certain cases allegedly involving school pupils.
Eswatini.- Eswatini’s widening crackdown on illegal gambling has extended to Siteki, with more than 50 foreign nationals in the town now under investigation for alleged links to unlicensed betting operations.
According to local sources, the individuals have been running gambling operations in the town for an extended period. Some allegedly entered the country in January last year and later established businesses believed to be funded through proceeds from these activities.
Residents said some gambling activities were carried out openly, with certain cases allegedly involving school pupils, prompting the community to alert authorities over concerns about unregulated betting and a lack of safeguards.
The majority of those implicated are believed to be from China and other Asian countries. Community members say language barriers, particularly the use of Mandarin, have limited interaction between operators and locals.
While the businesses established by the group have contributed to economic activity and job creation in Siteki, concerns have also been raised about labour practices. Some employees are reportedly earning as little as E600 (€30) per month, with allegations of poor working conditions. These claims have not yet been formally confirmed by authorities.
Sources further allege that the individuals may be part of a structured syndicate involved in organised gambling operations. Recruitment is said to have focused on individuals with technical expertise, particularly in information technology, to support online gambling systems. There are also claims that some recruits may have had prior involvement in fraud-related offences.
The Siteki operations are believed to be linked to recent arrests in Mbabane and nearby areas, including Woodlands, Forbes Reef and the Madlenya Building. In those cases, police detained multiple foreign nationals suspected of running illegal online gambling platforms and seized cash and electronic devices for investigation.
Authorities in Eswatini have intensified enforcement against unlicensed gambling, warning that such operations bypass regulatory controls, expose minors to betting and increase the risk of financial crimes.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the scale of the network, its financial flows and whether additional arrests or regulatory actions will follow.
