Zimpapers Logo

STAR ATTRACTION . . . Thousands of Zimbabweans are now betting on the outcome of UEFA Champions League matches where superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo are the star attractions

Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THERE are growing fears that a number of bookmakers, which have sprouted around the country following a sports betting explosion in recent months, could be ripping off punters through a sophisticated manipulation of odds, and raking in millions of dollars in profits a week.

The local sports betting industry has exploded in the past few months, with a number of shops being opened by bookmakers who specialise in betting on football played around the world, with the exception of the domestic leagues, horse racing from around the globe and even pre-recorded dog races.

International hockey, tennis, boxing, rugby, boxing and cricket matches are also offered by the bookmakers who woo thousands, if not millions, of gamblers — desperate to strike a fortune — into their shops every day promising them that they can, if luck is on their side, strike it rich.

Some of the bookmakers woo punters, in what has become a tough battle for patronage, on the promise that they offer “international odds”, and thousands, if not millions, of Zimbabweans are now taking part in sports betting, hoping to win as much as $50 000, or $75 000, depending on the bookmakers.

But there is growing concern that some of the bookmakers could be ripping off the punters, through a sophisticated manipulation of odds, which has seen them making a big killing at the expense of those who are chasing their dreams of striking it rich in this industry which has been growing at a phenomenal rate.

While the odds are not supposed to be standard, in this industry, it’s the vast difference between those offered, for the same matches, and horse races, around the world, and those offered by local bookmakers, which is raising alarm and fuelling suggestions that this could be a major feast on the savings of the local punters.

Sources within the local betting industry have been questioning why there should be such a big difference, in terms of the odds that are offered by the local and international bookmakers for the same games and horse races, in an environment where the currency that is being used here is the United States dollar.

“Obviously, it’s impossible to get the odds being the same among the international betting houses because this is an industry that is driven by the quest to make profits and you will see that the odds are always different but, crucially, the difference is usually minimal,” said one veteran punter.

“There is no way you can get William Hill, for instance, offering £20 for a lower division team in England to beat, let’s say, Manchester United or Chelsea in the FA Cup, for every pound bet, while PaddyPower, who are their rivals, will offer £10, for every pound bet for the same match and same outcome.

“The difference is there but if you look closely you will see that it’s likely to be just a few pennies here, a few pennies there, and that’s all because they are all fighting to get clients to come to their betting houses.

“The problem starts when you have, for instance, the same game, which a Zimbabwean with a VISA card can bet on, with either Williams Hill or PaddyPower, having odds that are almost eight or nine times better than what is being offered by the betting houses in this country and that is why there is this growing concern that the odds are being fiddled here and the local punters are getting a raw deal.

“Yes, you can say that the pound is stronger than the United States dollar but, even if you do the calculations, you can see that there is something very wrong here and that needs to be addressed in this industry because it should also serve the interests of those who are seeking a fortune as much as it is serving those who are running it.

“It should not always end up with the bookmakers being the winners because, given the way the odds seem to be fiddled here, it means that they will always make their millions while the poor people continue to make huge losses in a playing field that is not level and where there might be some possible manipulation of the odds.”

One punter, who thought that he had won $240 while gambling horses this week, was shocked to find himself being paid $45 for his winnings.

“The point here is that they just switched the odds from that race, after I had won, from what is paid in South Africa, which should have earned me more than $240, to what was being paid in Hong Kong and, when you consider that the pool of money in Hong Kong that day was $30 million for the race, compared to the 24 452 rand that was in the winning pool in South Africa,” said the punter.

“So, when it suited their interests, because I had won, they switched me to the pool that was paying less, and when they are wooing us, they use the pool that is promising a fortune, and it’s something that the gaming board should seriously look into very quickly.

“If we are using Hong Kong, to pay people when they lose, why is it that we don’t get paid for a third place here, when they pay for a third place in Hong Kong, and they quickly tell us that we fall under the South African rules where there is no dividend for third place?

“Ask the gaming board officials if the bookmakers are allowed Totes, when it comes to horse racing, but we see it being offered at betting houses in this city.”

Robson Chinamasa, an expert in sports betting, told The Herald yesterday that he believed everything was being done above board.

“We have two types of gambling which are Tote, and that one is not profit-oriented and it is usually done by lotteries, and the fixed betting which one can incur a profit or a loss, depending on the outcome,” said Chinamasa.

“The bookmakers go through a rigorous process to acquire a licence and the vetting is thorough. They also pay some commission to the Government and the gaming board.

“If many people bet for a single entry definitely its value will depreciate as there is risk that if everyone wins the bookmakers will have to pay, however, when they register they will pay a deposit which can cover the debts if they refuse to pay.

“The gaming board falls directly under the Home Affairs Ministry so the issue of paying out is not a problem.”

A member of the local gaming board, Heavens Gonga, said the difference between the odds in other parts of the world and Zimbabwe could be based on the currency and not manipulation of the system.

“We have a lot to explain but what I know is that we are implementing Zim-Asset at its highest level. We are surprised that we are no longer covered in the newspapers but they used to do that.

“The game is a process and we are happy that people are taking betting as a hobby while also making money,” he said.