By Marx Itamalo|
JONAS NEGONGA stands next to a bar counter holding a dozen slip-like papers. Beer glass in hand he remarks: “Only four games are left now then if my teams win, it will be all over.”
His friend and companion Freddy Mwatunga did not respond, with his eyes completely riveted on a television up on the bar wall where a presenter is presenting news on the Middle-East crisis.
Moments earlier, Negonga had arrived from a betting shop where he won N$600. It is part of the money the men are ‘demolishing’.
The sport betting business entered the Namibian market about seven years ago and it has become visible in all layers of Namibian society. From schoolchildren up to young professionals and elders too.
More often, betting shops are full to the capacity with people betting on soccer clubs from football leagues the world over. Because many people have won thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars and even millions after betting, so many people are now flocking to these shops like thirsty buffalo descending on a river.
Unfortunately, as it is with other forms of gambling, there are always losers. And some losers lose large amounts.
Since betting owners are making huge profits from the business, some went far by introducing online betting where clients can bet from wherever they are. They simply open betting accounts which are administered by betting companies.
Negonga was kind enough to share his betting story with Omutumwa Online this week.
During the dawn of the Covid-19 pandemic, he was introduced to betting by his colleague.
“My colleague is a kind of gambling guy. One day we went for a drink in town and he stopped at a betting shop where he went to cash out his winnings and he had won about N$3000. That is how I started betting,” Negonga, an Oshakati based furniture shop employee says.
According to him, since he started betting he has won numerous amounts with the largest being N$70 000 he won last November.
Explaining the dynamics of betting, Negonga explains it takes betting large amounts in order to similarly win big cash.
“If you want to win big, you should bet big money in order to narrow the number of teams in your bet. If they win as per your prediction, then you can strike gold,” explains.
Negonga said he used his winnings to purchase a plot in Ondangwa and to buy a second hand car for taxi business.
In the photo: Sportbetting gambling is a serious industry worldwide.
