As long as gambling has been freely available, so has the concern regarding underage gambling been prevalent. The exposure of betting companies has grown in new and highly volatile forms of communication, such as online advertising, whose audience is notoriously near-impossible to control. Social commentators and members of the public have expressed concern that there is a worrying rise in the number of minors frequenting betting outfits and being allowed to place bets. With sports betting in particular as a massive draw and temptation for underage gamblers, what exactly are the betting companies themselves doing to address the situation?
Social commentators and members of the public have expressed concern that there is a worrying rise in the number of minors frequenting betting outfits and being allowed to place bets.
For Betway, an internationally-recognized brand in sports betting, this is not their first rodeo. Experienced in multiple countries, the brand has sought to enforce a foolproof and stringent policy regarding minors using their service.
Recently launched in Ghana, Betway is the leading mobile and web-based betting platform in the country, and, as such, this gives them a special advantage when it comes to discouraging underage gambling. Firstly, a new customer needs to meet the age requirements, which are clearly defined upon registration. Thereafter, a minor would not be able to engage in any of the monetary services or functions that form part of the Betway online platform because they wouldn’t be eligible for a mobile money account in the first place.
This isn’t just company policy, either, this is Ghanaian law. According to the laws that govern mobile money services in Ghana, anyone who is underage is restricted from opening up, depositing money into or withdrawing money from an account. There is also, of course, the potential risk of adult and minor collusion, however, both are accountable in the eyes of the law should they engage in prohibited activities, which acts as a deterrent.
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Marketing executive of Betway, Kwabena Nkrumah, went on to say, “For us, as a reputable and highly accountable brand, we are just as focused on discouraging those who are not legally eligible to gamble as we are on ensuring that those who do, have a pleasant and safe experience. This preserves the integrity of the service that we provide for all involved.”
