Contribution of sports betting on the income levels of the youth in Buyende District

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the contribution of sports betting on the income levels of the youth in Buyende district. The study was guided by three objectives including: To investigate on the drivers of sports betting among the youths in Buyende district, to assess the contribution of sports betting on the income levels of the youths in Buyende district and to establish the strategies for promoting the incomes for the youths in the informal sector in Buyende district. The study was purely qualitative and implored a purposive method of sampling to identify the respondents. The sample size of the study was 17 including 14 participants and 3 key informants who were in this case the staff at the sports betting shops and these were cashiers/ attendants. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. The study findings highlight various factors that motivate the youths to participate in sports betting including peer pressure, the low levels of income, unemployment due to illiteracy, the aim to get quick money among others. While some youth perceive sports betting as a quick source of income this study findings show how sports betting can contribute either negatively or positively on the income levels of the youth and in this case, the findings revealed that it often results into financial instability, loss of savings and capital, opting for loans which at times are hard to pay back which negatively contribute to their income levels especially among the youth in the informal sector in Buyende. Finally, the study recommends the different strategies that can be put in place to promote the incomes of the youths in the informal sector in Buyende and these include vocational skills trainings, financial literacy trainings, improving on the skilling hubs, re-emphasizing the government programs that target at poverty reduction