TECHNOLOGY: Real cost of online money games flooding Zambian phones

1 Views The advent of online money games has taken the continent by storm and Zambia has not been left behind in this play and win instant cash jamboree. Over the last two to three years there has been a boom in apps and sites promising users that they can win real money by playing […]

1 Views

The advent of online money games has taken the continent by storm and Zambia has not been left behind in this play and win instant cash jamboree.

Over the last two to three years there has been a boom in apps and sites promising users that they can win real money by playing games ranging from spin-to-win and card games to aviator and crash games, sports prediction, casino-style slots and even chess.

The draw is simple. With a phone, mobile money and cheap data, a person can deposit a few kwacha and within minutes see a balance that can be withdrawn to Airtel Money or MTN.

For some, it is indeed real.

Commenting on a social media handle, John Gweru said he has won the games on two occasions.

“The games are real, I won on two occasions. Walking home with a combined $50,” he said. Stories like his spread quickly on social media and that is part of why the trend has grown so fast.

However the need to get rich quickly has in some cases left many with sad tales to tell. Social analyst Elder Mabhunu warns that while some platforms do pay out, the emergence of these games has also seen a rise in scams.

“Some pay out small amounts to keep people hooked. Others are straight scams. And a lot sit in a gray area where they’re legal gambling sites, but marketed like just a game,” he said.

In Zambia and across Africa the growth has been fueled by mobile money, data bundles and aggressive marketing on social media, . “So people actually do receive K50, K200 to their Airtel or MTN wallet and then lose K2000 chasing it,” he said.

Mabhunu said one of the first warning signs is regulation. In Zambia all gambling must be licensed by the Gambling and Lotteries Board and many of the apps circulating in group chats have no license and no address. “If they disappear with deposits there is no recourse,” he said. Mabhunu also pointed to how money moves.

“Deposits are instant but withdrawals are often blocked by high minimums or wagering requirements, and that is how platforms keep the money.”

He hinted that “Apps shared as APK files outside the Play Store or App Store can ask for access to contacts, SMS and IDs and some are used for fraud.”

He said influencers who post big wins are usually earning from referral codes and are paid when people deposit and lose, not when they win.

“Games with rounds that last seconds, like crash games and one minute colour prediction, are designed to create fast losses and to push players to chase them,” he warned.

“Requests for NRC details, selfies or bank information can also be used for loan scams or to sell data, and schemes that pay for referring friends often collapse once new deposits slow down.”

The safer approach, according to commentators, is to treat these games as entertainment and not income, to set a strict budget, to test a small withdrawal before putting in more, to check independent reviews, and to never borrow money to play.

Some online money games do pay. Most are built so the house wins over time. The real product being sold is hope, and when an offer feels too easy and promises daily income while pushing recruitment, the best advice is to walk away.