Grand-Bassam : la jeunesse prise au piège des paris en ligne
From simple entertainment to a social scourge, online gambling addiction is hitting young people in Grand-Bassam particularly hard. Faced with unemployment and the promise of "easy money," high school students, footballers, and professionals find themselves caught in a dangerous financial and psychological spiral.
In Grand-Bassam, the scene has become commonplace: figures, eyes glued to their smartphones, roam the streets, café terraces, and even schools. They aren't watching videos, but hunting for the saving grace of odds, the winning ticket that they hope will change their lives. Online sports betting (on platforms like 1Bet, MelBet, Betmomo, etc.) is no longer a pastime, but a creeping addiction taking root among young people.
The mechanics of addiction are described as formidable by those who fall victim to it. " It's very easy to get into this game, but very difficult to get out. Once you're in it, it becomes an illness ," confides A. Berthé, a young gambler from the town.
Complete accessibility is the primary advantage. A few clicks are all it takes to install the application and connect it to a mobile money account. The barrier to entry is virtually nonexistent. In a context of persistent unemployment and poverty, these platforms exploit vulnerability by offering an illusory shortcut to financial independence. People take a chance, lose, and try again, driven by the hope of "making it all back."
The phenomenon affects all social classes, including the youngest. Thirteen-year-old Daniel, a student in 8th grade, admits to already being caught in the spiral. His story illustrates the yo-yo effect of addiction:
“Often when I lose, I want to delete the app. I had put in 5,000 francs, my money for the week. I lost in the last few seconds. It hurt a lot. But another day, I put in 150 francs and won 35,000. When that happens, you forget all the losses… ”
Even in class, concentration is waning. T. Hermann, a student in his final year of high school (Terminal A2), admits: "Even in the middle of class, you find yourself on a betting app. You're afraid of missing the right bet." Champions League Tuesdays or European championship weekends become essential events that distract young people from their studies or work.
Donald, a hairdresser in the Phare district, highlights the most serious consequences:
“Often, even the money for food goes into it. Once, I gambled away the money for the electricity bill. We slept in the dark. I was ashamed. It’s dangerous, but when it works, it helps us. I delete the app and then one day I reinstall it…”
Young footballers, passionate about their sport and eager to break free, are a prime target. In training centers, they become impromptu analysts, tempted by seemingly safe bets: "I don't have much money, otherwise I'm in control. Bayern Munich, this season, 16 consecutive wins. When you want to bet, you inevitably bet on their victory," explains Karamoko, a young player.
The problem is all the more worrying because the sports community is also affected. EKA, a former player turned coach, admits that many amateur and professional athletes turn to betting to supplement their income, which is considered insufficient in Ivory Coast. "When you know the scene, you think you can win quickly," he explains, emphasizing that this practice damages the credibility of coaches.
The consequences of this wave of addiction are numerous and alarming: decreased productivity, massive school dropouts, debt, family conflicts, and even petty theft to replenish a mobile money account.
Despite the intensive sponsorship of sporting events by these same platforms, civil society is sounding the alarm. The dream of quick money is turning into disillusionment, and sometimes into a nightmare, transforming studious teenagers into compulsive gamblers. In Grand-Bassam, the situation is critical: to prevent young people from sacrificing their future to the mirage of the jackpot.
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