To reduce reputational risk and maintain the image of the police, the Zimbabwe National Police recently issued a ban, explicitly prohibiting officers from entering betting stations in uniform or participating in any form of gambling activities.
This ban was announced by Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the spokesperson for the national police, at a national forum on responsible gambling held in Harare. The forum, co-hosted by the Lottery and Gaming Commission, brought together government officials, regulatory bodies, and representatives from the gambling industry to discuss the regulatory and social impacts of the rapidly growing gambling industry in Zimbabwe.
The forum also addressed several gambling-related criminal cases, including a former company manager who was convicted of stealing over $3,000 to fund his gambling addiction, which attracted widespread attention.
Despite this, some industry insiders argue that individual criminal acts should not be easily attributed to gambling, and gambling should not become a scapegoat for crime.
Commissioner Nyathi stated that recent social media posts showing uniformed officers betting at stations have severely damaged public trust in the police, hence the need for regulation: "We cannot allow such behavior to tarnish the image of the entire national law enforcement agency."
The ban is also seen as an important measure by the authorities to strengthen regulation and standardize industry behavior, especially as collision games become increasingly popular in Zimbabwe, necessitating stronger guidance and risk control by the government.
Meanwhile, there has been positive progress in the industry. Booming Games recently announced a partnership with Bitville Gaming to further expand its influence in the African market, indicating that despite stricter regulations, the Zimbabwean gambling market still has great potential.
