A section of parents in Ruaka town wants the government to regulate betting and gambling in the country.
The parents are complaining over rising cases of depression among youths who are taking part in betting and gambling. The residents say that cases of young people taking part in gambling and losing out money are on the rise.
Speaking on Saturday, the residents asked the government to regulate gambling and betting.
“The government needs to regulate gambling to save our youths from depression which they are suffering for losing out bets,” said Marion Wanjiru.
She noted that many young people spend their time in gambling casinos and entertainment joints gambling.
She noted that some of the gambling and betting companies are out there to fleece money from youths.
“We have heard and seen cases where students spend school fees in gambling only to regret later,” said Joseph Kamau, a resident.
Kamau said the government needs to act tough and come up with regulations to control the betting sector. “We have so many betting and gambling companies some which could be operating illegally,” he said.
Jacinta Nyawira, a counsellor at a local university in Limuru says that cases of depression among youths are alarming. Nyawira said that she is handling many cases of depression related to gambling.
“It is alarming on how sports betting are causing depression to young people who bet but lose their money,” she said.
Nyawira urged youths to shun betting and instead invest them to invest their money in other areas. Cases of people committing suicide after losing out on betting have been reported in some parts of the country.
With the entry of many betting sporting companies many youths especially university and college students have been lured into it with some losing money meant to pay their school.