Malawi’s gaming regulators have confirmed that operators facilitating underage gambling will be sanctioned with fines.
During a regulations sensitisation workshop in Mangochi, the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) announced that operators in the country will have to pay a $11,500 fine if a minor under the age of 18 is found to have used their platform.
Speaking on the new regulation, MAGLA Director General, Rachel Mijiga, emphasised the importance of protecting minors from the effects of gambling.
She said: “We must protect our youth from the serious social and psychological risks that gambling poses. That is why the new regulations are clear, anyone found entertaining children under the age of 18 to participate in gambling activities will face a fine of [$11,500].”
The tightening of restrictions in Malawi follows an increased focus on the country, and the wider African region, in recent times by global operators.
Earlier this year, 888Bets confirmed its expansion into Malawi, marking its seventh market in the region. This followed 888Bets’ acquisition of the multinational African online bookmaker BetLion, which it described as a “critical step” in its African expansion.
In response to the influx of operators into Africa, regulation in the region has continued to mature.
Last week, The Gaming Authority in Ghana emphasised its intentions to intensify its efforts around regulation, with a specific focus on the location of the gambling venues.
Commissioner Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo spoke at a recent meeting about its aims to tackle the level of gambling venues in areas that could see an increased impact of the most vulnerable corners of society.
This was also a sentiment shared by MAGLA’s Director of Operations, Lawrence Chikoko, during the announcement of Malawi’s new rules, who spoke about the need for gambling to be viewed solely as a leisure activity.
He said: “We’ve noticed that especially among the youth, due to unemployment and lack of activities, they spend too much time gambling. Everyone should know there are limits to how much one can gamble.”
