Vanessa Obioha Across Africa, gambling, particularly sports betting, has expanded rapidly over the past decade, driven by mobile technology and rising youth unemployment. In countries such as Nigeria and South Africa, studies show a growing number of young people engage in regular betting, with many at risk of developing addictive behaviours. The ease of access to online platforms has further accelerated this trend, often outpacing awareness of its psychological and financial consequences. It is against this backdrop that 'Bet I Love You,' a feature film directed by Nigerian filmmaker Joseph Duke, confronts the rising crisis of gambling addiction, a challenge increasingly affecting communities across both countries. The Zulu-language drama uses storytelling as a lens to examine the often-o