Malawi’s gaming regulator, MAGLA, has issued one of its strongest warnings yet, urging citizens to stop treating gambling as a source of income amid growing concern that financially stretched households are risking essential savings on betting platforms.

Muchanakhwaye Mpuluka, head of the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA), said the authority is increasingly alarmed by reports of people withdrawing their entire bank savings and losing them in a single betting spree.

He described the trend as both “devastating” and symptomatic of wider economic pressures. Mpuluka said gambling must be understood strictly as entertainment, not a financial strategy.

He warned that the growth of mobile betting apps and online platforms has made it easier for vulnerable Malawians to fall into cycles of chasing losses.

The intervention comes as critics highlight the social fallout of problem gambling, including families struggling to afford food, rent, and school fees after household income is diverted to betting.

MAGLA said it will intensify public warnings and promote safer gambling practices as part of its efforts to curb the rise in financially harmful behaviour.

The regulator’s message comes at a time when many Malawians are grappling with inflation, currency depreciation, and rising living costs.

Mpuluka said the warning is intended to counter the perception that gambling can provide financial relief, stressing that the odds remain firmly stacked against those who gamble in search of relief.