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- Michael Zhang urged African gambling regulators and operators to detect signs of gambling-related harm before treatment becomes necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- He said digital betting and gambling advertising have reduced barriers to wagering and increased its visibility in everyday life. Prediction markets can blur the distinction between gambling, research and investing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Self-exclusion and financial limits may offer insufficient protection if customers can easily reverse restrictions or switch platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Zhang called for responsible gambling measures tailored to African countries\u2019 regulatory systems, payment infrastructure and social conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Nigeria.- African gambling regulators and operators need to identify early signs of gambling-related harm rather than wait for treatment figures and gambling disorder rates to reveal the scale of the problem, gambling psychologist Michael Zhang<\/strong> has warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\nZhang, founder and chief executive of Incumental, said the growth of digital betting, gambling advertising and the perception of wagering as a source of income were making it harder to recognise harmful behaviour<\/strong> before gamblers faced serious financial or personal consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an article published by THISDAY as part of the Safer Gaming for Africa newsletter, Zhang argued that African markets should focus more on behavioural warning signs, including impulsive betting, repeated exposure to gambling prompts and gambling activity that disrupts everyday routines. He said treatment figures were a late indicator of the problem because people might seek professional help only after gambling had affected their finances, relationships or psychological well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zhang attributed part of the challenge to the reduced barriers to gambling created by digital platforms. Unlike traditional land-based gambling, which requires people to travel to a betting shop or gambling venue, online services allow users to place wagers through devices they already use throughout the day. He also pointed to the publicity surrounding large gambling winnings, which can reinforce the perception that betting offers a route to financial improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He warned that financial pressure, limited financial literacy and poor money management could further strengthen that belief, particularly when people began treating wagers as a potential source of income rather than paid entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do prediction markets complicate player protection?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Zhang also raised concerns about prediction markets, where participants wager on the outcomes of events ranging from elections and interest rate decisions to entertainment awards. He said these products could make wagering feel more like research, analysis or investing than conventional gambling because participants might spend considerable time studying information before committing money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zhang said bettors who rely on research and analysis might use unexpected outcomes or perceived market errors to justify their losses rather than question their continued gambling. He noted that correctly predicting an event did not guarantee a profit from wagering on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What limitations do existing responsible gambling safeguards have?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The psychologist said responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion and financial limits, could help reduce risk, but their effectiveness depended on how they were designed and applied. For example, a spending limit that a customer could easily increase during a betting session offered a different level of protection from a limit established in advance that was difficult to reverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also questioned the effectiveness of safeguards that operate separately across betting platforms. In markets such as Nigeria, where operators offer different responsible gambling tools, a customer who leaves one platform may still be able to gamble elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zhang cautioned against importing responsible gambling frameworks from established markets without considering differences in African countries\u2019 regulatory systems, payment infrastructure and social conditions. Instead, he called for locally appropriate measures to identify emerging risks and support intervention before gambling-related harm became more severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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- Why does Michael Zhang want African gambling markets to detect harm earlier?<\/strong> Zhang argues that treatment figures and gambling disorder rates often reveal problems only after significant damage has occurred. Monitoring behavioural warning signs could help operators and regulators intervene sooner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How can digital betting increase the risk of gambling-related harm?<\/strong> Digital platforms allow people to place wagers through devices they use throughout the day, reducing the barriers associated with visiting physical betting venues. Gambling advertising and publicity surrounding large winnings can also reinforce the perception of betting as a source of income.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Why are prediction markets a concern for responsible gambling?<\/strong> Prediction markets allow people to wager on events such as elections and interest rate decisions. Researching these outcomes can make betting feel like investing or analysis, potentially making harmful gambling behaviour harder to recognise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
\n\t\t\tSee also:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/10\/1e960978-62df-48aa-aeed-d44de0bb1dc4-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n - How can digital betting increase the risk of gambling-related harm?<\/strong> Digital platforms allow people to place wagers through devices they use throughout the day, reducing the barriers associated with visiting physical betting venues. Gambling advertising and publicity surrounding large winnings can also reinforce the perception of betting as a source of income.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Why does Michael Zhang want African gambling markets to detect harm earlier?<\/strong> Zhang argues that treatment figures and gambling disorder rates often reveal problems only after significant damage has occurred. Monitoring behavioural warning signs could help operators and regulators intervene sooner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n