A year ago, Godwin Kainamura, a motorcycle operator based in Nyamirambo, Nyarugenge district joined sports betting after his friends convinced him it was lucrative.

Mr Kainamura has tried a flutter many times without luck. However, he has decided not to give up after seeing some of his friends winning.

“You will keep trying in the hope that you will win. It’s only those who keep trying who succeed in life anyway,” says Kainamura. He says since he joined sports betting, he has lost more than he has won.

Henry Katabarwa, a teacher, is concerned that sports betting is slowly becoming an addiction.

“I use less money to bet. But I know there are some people, especially youth, who bet more than Rwf100,000 in the hope of winning big,” reveals the teacher from Kabeza.

Over the past one year, he has won five times out of the many times he has gambled. He tells a story of how his friend used Rwf500 and won himself Rwf50,000 in the second try.

Henry Kakooza, a sales manager at Sports 4 Africa branch in Nyamirambo, says they are into this business because it is becoming lucrative, unlike in the past when Rwandans used to shun it.

Three years ago, it was not common to see many Rwandans crowded into sports betting parlours in Kigali. Today, both young and old go to gambling joints to try their luck.

“It is a win -win situation. Sometimes, we get abnormal profits but these days, clients benefit a lot,” Mr Kakoza, who hails from Uganda, explains. According to him, sports betting in Rwanda is not as active as in Kampala.

He argues that in Kampala people understand the business better. Mr Kakoza says the weekend of February 2 and 3, the betting firm generated a profit of about Rwf200,000 but for another two days, clients walked away with over Rwf400,000.

Joseph Kamukama, a manager at Premier Sports Betting, says local fans place bets on a wide range of sports such as local and international football, Formula 1, boxing, cricket, tennis and basketball.

“I think we should look at why they are not supporting local sports activities. Look, European clubs like Real Madrid are sponsored by Bwin, the biggest gaming house in the world,” said Mr Kamukama.

Evode Minani joined the betting club nine months ago. Mr Minani’s best win was Rwf35,000 after a bet of Rwf300. He argues that sports betting firms benefit more because there are more chances of losing than winning.

“People who come here to bet are very many and since the charge is as low as Rwf300 their profit will be high,” explains Mr Minani who regularly visits Premier Sports Betting in Nyabugogo.