How Nairobi's Young Professionals are Using Betting Apps as Weekend Entertainment

The typical plan on a weekend in Nairobi is to get together after a long week with friends, get a table in Westlands, Kilimani, Thika Road, Ngong Road, or wherever, and catch a football match.

The proliferation of betting apps Kenya users have today is indicative of a general shift in the impact of technology on leisure. A significant portion of Nairobi's connected workforce has become more interested in participating in sports betting via mobile, rather than physical betting venues. It looks at the reasons why betting apps have become a part of weekend culture, rather than a source of income.

The digital economy has provided Kenya with a conducive environment to grow the mobile betting industry. Online platforms are more accessible to many adults thanks to affordable smartphones, increased internet coverage and the ubiquity of digital payments. Professionals no longer need to walk to a betting shop to check odds and follow their sport's action on their commute, while relaxing at home or playing with friends, but can instead follow live matches and place bets from their phones.

Source: Nairobi Leo