Cyclone Idai Disaster Response

Following Cyclone Idai, which devastated areas of Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, GeoPoll rapidly deployed an SMS survey to the hardest-hit areas near the coast of Mozambique. By using SMS, which regains connectivity following a natural disaster more quickly than other communications methods, we were able to gather information on infrastructure damage, aid presence, and aid need within days of the cyclone touching down. Our first report showed widespread destruction and a strong need for aid, especially in the city of Beira. Our second report on Cyclone Idai, conducted in the weeks following the Cyclone, examined the fear of Cholera spreading and the impact the hurricane had on livelihoods as communities continued to rebuild.

Gathering Feedback on HIV Self-Test Kits in Kenya

With PSI International, GeoPoll used our SMS capabilities to gather direct feedback from consumers using HIV self-test kits. Using text-in triggers on the product packaging, GeoPoll and PSI were able to reach those who had used HIV self-test kits in order to better understand experiences with these products. Read more.

AFCON 2019 Data

As one of the biggest sporting events in Africa, interest in the African Cup of Nations ran high throughout the months of June and July 2019. Just prior to the start of the games, GeoPoll produced a free report looking at the popularity of football, planned viewership of AFCON, and engagement in sports betting around AFCON. As the games were ongoing, GeoPoll Audience Measurement captured viewership metrics in multiple countries in Africa including Benin and Cote D’Ivoire.

Data on Betting in Kenya

2019 was a critical year for betting in Kenya, as it was announced that betting, which had grown in popularity in Kenya due to the ease of mobile-based betting applications, would be more strongly regulated throughout the country in July. In addition to our data on betting related to AFCON, GeoPoll conducted a study with Ipsos on the impact the new regulations around gambling would have on the industry and economy, which can be accessed for free here.

Financial Services in Africa Report

As the financial services industry continues to grow throughout Africa, GeoPoll conducted a wide-reaching study in six nations on how youth engage with financial services, save, and invest. Results examine share of wallet for common spending categories, the popularity of cash versus other payment methods, and how savings and investment cultures differ throughout Africa. Download the free report on the state of financial services in sub-Saharan Africa here.

Let GeoPoll Help With Your Research Needs

GeoPoll is the leader in conducting research through the mobile phone in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. To learn more about our research methodologies or get a quote for your research project, please contact us today.

The post GeoPoll’s Top Research Projects of 2019 appeared first on GeoPoll.

Following our joint report with Ipsos, on the reaction to the crackdown on gambling in Kenya and the suspension of several gambling firms’ licenses, GeoPoll is pleased to release additional data on the prevalence of betting in Kenya, popular types of betting, and the impact that smartphone ownership has had on gambling. This study was conducted by SMS with a sample size of 600 immediately prior to the July 1 regulations taking effect. To purchase GeoPoll’s full reports on gambling in Kenya or request a custom report on certain aspects of gambling in Kenya or other countries please contact us. 

Prevalence of Gambling in Kenya

GeoPoll’s study found that out of those age 18+ in Kenya, 57% have participated in gambling in the past, including 69% of males and 44% of females. Of those who gamble, 47% are light gamblers who place bets once a month or less, and only 10% of gamblers place bets more than once a day. The study finds that gambling is most popular among males aged 25-34, of whom 77% have gambled in the past, with 58% of this group gambling at least once a week. Females age 35+ are the least likely participants in gambling; Only 46% of this population have ever gambled.

Of those who have not gambled in the past, 39% report that they are not interested, and 27% state a lack of money prevents them from gambling. Those aged 25-34 who do not participate in gambling are most likely to report that this is because of either a lack of money or the fear of losing money – 48% of these participants cited a money-based reason for not gambling, compared to 36% of those aged 35+ and 31% of those aged 18-24, suggesting that this group is interested in gambling but feels a responsibility to not spend their money on gambling.

Mobile Phones and Betting in Kenya

GeoPoll also confirmed that mobile phones have been at the forefront of the gambling industry in Kenya. There are stark differences in gambling prevalence among smartphone owners vs non-smartphone owners, with just 40% of those owning basic phones gambling, compared to 64% of smartphone owners. Females who own a basic mobile phone are the least likely to have gambled, with only 27% of this group placing bets or gambling.

In addition, among those who have gambled, mobile applications are by far the most popular medium for doing so; 88% of gamblers have used their mobile device to place bets, and 55% of those are gambling on their phone once a week or more. This makes mobile-based gambling both the most popular and the most frequently used method of gambling, demonstrating how the ease of access to mobile gambling has changed the betting industry dramatically.

Casinos are less popular, with only 36% of gamblers reporting that they place bets in casinos, and a third of those who go to casinos stating that they do so once a month or less. Cyber cafes and betting shops are also less frequently used for betting than mobile, with only 28% and 33% of the gambling population respectively noting that they place bets through these shops.

Gamblers in Kenya are most likely to bet by themselves, with 40% noting that they place bets alone most often, however 38% bet with friends, demonstrating that even with the popularity of mobile apps betting can be a social sport.

Football Betting Reigns Supreme

In terms of what people in Kenya are betting on, football is the most popular type of betting – 83% report that they bet on football most often, followed by lotteries which 11% report is their most common form of betting. Lotteries are most popular with the older age group, 22% of which say lotteries are their preferred type of gambling, and females are also more likely to bet through lotteries than males. The popularity of football betting has also been found in previous GeoPoll reports on the World Cup, during which 77% of those in Kenya said they had placed bets, and AFCON, which 83% of Kenyan gamblers planned to place bets on.

Demonstrating the loyalty gamblers have to their preferred betting type, we find that 37% report they do not have a secondary preferred betting type, and 26% say sports other than football are their second most frequent source of bets.

Data on Gambling in Kenya

GeoPoll has conducted numerous studies on gambling in Kenya dating from 2017 through to the July 2019 suspensions. To purchase our gambling data or request a custom report on the state of gambling in Kenya, contact us today.

The post Gambling in Kenya: Mobile Phones and Football Boost Popularity appeared first on GeoPoll.

Among other findings available in the full report, which can be downloaded for free here, the study finds that the suspension will have a large impact on the media industry, which has benefited previously from advertisements from betting – following the suspension it is estimated that the media industry will lose 10% of 2019 advertising expenditure, equivalent to a loss of KES 14 billion.

We also find that the majority of those aware of the betting suspension are bettors, a natural conclusion given the amount of press coverage around the suspension and the effect the changes will have on those who have been gambling regularly. The study finds that 73% of Kenyans that are aware of the suspension are bettors and that a majority are unhappy regarding the suspension. We also find that, while 40% plan to save the money they have been using to bet, 60% still intend to spend it elsewhere, on other items or other betting channels.

As GeoPoll has reported on previously, football betting is the most popular type of betting in Kenya, and tournaments including the World Cup and AFCON bring in large amounts of betting activity. This report finds that a majority of respondents plan to continue watching AFCON, which will be completed with the final between Senegal and Algeria on July 19th, and the English Premier League, however, 18% and 19% will stop watching the respective tournaments following the suspension.

The full report, which includes detailed insights on the suspension’s effect on the advertising industry, as well as demographic profiles of those aware of the suspension and more in-depth analysis, is available for download for free here. 

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