ABSTRACT
Betting and gambling have a long history in Zimbabwe. In the past, lottery, horse racing and, at times, dog racing were an integral part of betting culture, especially among the employed and unemployed poor working classes. The socio-economic impacts of the crises that gripped Zimbabwe post-2000 have led to an increasing number of people turning to soccer betting as a livelihood activity. This chapter focuses on an emerging and growing phenomenon of soccer betting houses in urban Zimbabwe with a specific focus on Harare. The chapter is based on participant observation of a soccer betting house located just outside a high-density suburb in the city. The chapter outlines the motivations, patterns and experiences with betting and whether supporting a particular club in Europe influences the way people bet. It also highlights the gendered dimensions of soccer betting spaces and how soccer betting houses are, in many ways entrenching European football fandoms in Zimbabwe.
