Prof. Paul Nchoji Nkwi, an anthropologist with the Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, explains the challenges of limiting the damage of compulsive gambling on Cameroonians.

What explains the increasing addiction by young (and even older) Cameroonians to games of chance?

Cameroon has been going through a difficult economic crisis whose fall-out has been unemployment. The illicit accumulation of wealth by a few people gives the impression that anyone can make it. The increase in ‘Feymanism’ (easy money or persons who cheat others, the State and structures of society) constitutes part of the problem.

Games of chance give the false illusion or impression to young people that they can make it in life (live the life of civil servants) if they can throw in the little they have in gambling. Unemployment and the desire to live on the fast lane or get rich fast appear to be reasons why young people get addicted to gambling or fast alternatives to a better quality of life.

Can the new Act of Parliament on games of chance and gambling stem the phenomenon?

I have not yet acquainted myself with the new Act of Parliament. But in most countries that allow gambling, there is some form of control while other governments, especially in Islamic nations, simply ban it as being sinful (‘haram’). Gambling by nature is a lucrative activity and good if it is organised as a fair game, with no fraud and those engaged not knowing the outcome in advance.

The real problem with gambling houses is the possibility of using them for money laundering. People may steal from the State and instead of putting the money into regular banks, they channel the money through gambling houses. Gambling houses can therefore be used to conduct illegal activities. ANEF and ANENCAM would need to add gambling houses into their terms of reference. These two State organizations, which seek to stamp out embezzlement of State funds by acolytes of the system, may act as watch-dogs. 

What else can be done to drastically reduce addiction to games of chance?

It is important to understand addiction. It is defined as a “condition that results when a person ingests a substance (for example alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an activity (for example gambling, sex, shopping) that can be pleasurable, but the continued use/act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work.”

If we apply this to our current situation, it is apparent that young people have become addicted to gambling or games of chance in the hope that they will one day win big money and get out of the poverty dungeon in which they find themselves. In some advanced countries, such addictions are treated as a medical condition and the people provided with psychological and sociological counseling. The best approach by society is to address the root causes of compulsive gambling by strengthening enculturative processes and creating many outlets for decent living.