Victor Wanyama Explains How Betting Operators Are Changing Young Footballers' Lives in Africa

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has detailed how betting operators are slowly changing the lives of young African footballers.

Victor Wanyama explained how the betting firms are stabilising football clubs, insisting that their presence can already be felt across the continent.

An accomplished player himself, Victor Wanyama admitted that betting firms have ensured the stabilisation of African leagues and ensured that clubs are stable financially.

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At the IGF East Africa Event in Nairobi, Victor Wanyama told iGaming AFRIKA that while sports betting sponsorships have boosted the financial stability of African leagues and clubs, he emphasised the need for more direct support to individual teams.

“The betting industry should also support teams at the club level. So, let’s have a lot of betting support in the club. That way, you know, it will help the players to perform and not think so much about other stuff,” Victor Wanyama said.

The 34-year-old noted that operators’ funding has enabled clubs to manage expenses, pay wages promptly, and sustain competitions.

He highlighted that this backing has uplifted conditions for established players while opening doors for young African footballers to pursue professional careers.

“The young players you see in the league are getting supported very well by these companies. As a young player, you want to be part of it, and you want to work hard so that you can also come and live and earn better and make money that can sustain you. It’s a good thing as a young player,” Victor Wanyama added.

Victor Wanyama’s remarks come as Kenya’s betting industry faces tighter regulations, including a 30-day ad blackout introduced in April by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).

The new rules prohibit the use of celebrities and influencers, ban adverts that glamorise gambling or present it as income, and require every campaign to carry responsible gambling messages, target only adults, and be cleared by both the BCLB and the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB).

Despite these restrictions, betting companies remain active in football, with SportPesa recently signing a 10-year deal as FKF Premier League title sponsor.

For Victor Wanyama, this underlines football's role as a key platform for betting brands, but he stressed that the real benefit comes when funds directly support clubs and help players focus on performance.

Victor Wanyama also urged a balance between financial support and responsibility, noting that the game’s future hinges on managing this equilibrium.