A twenty-year-old resident of Lilongwe made headlines on Friday by becoming the first customer to win MK174.2 million on Betpawa’s Aviator game after placing a stake of just MK500.
During the prize presentation ceremony in Blantyre, Steven Kaluba expressed his overwhelming joy at claiming the substantial payout. “I play Aviator regularly, but I never expected to win such an amazing prize. I usually don’t bet much at a time, just something to keep me entertained,” he said.
Kaluba, a bicycle repairman, shared that he had been playing Aviator since August 2023 and had won small prizes before. Despite considering stopping, he found the courage to continue playing, which ultimately paid off.
The fortunate winner, who plans to support his impoverished family with the money, urged youth to gamble responsibly and avoid addiction, emphasizing that betting is a game of luck.
As part of his winnings, Kaluba enjoyed a private jet trip from Lilongwe to Blantyre, where he had lunch at Mount Soche Hotel.
Betpawa’s regional marketing manager for Southern Africa, Bwalya Musonda, expressed the company’s excitement at being part of life-changing experiences for players. “We are delighted by this man’s impressive win. It has been a lucky streak for our customers on this game, truly asserting us as the home of Africa’s big winners,” she stated.
Lameck Chikoko, the operations director for Malawi Lotteries and Gaming Authority (Malga), stressed the importance of responsible gaming, particularly among youth. He revealed that the authority receives numerous cases of addictive gambling, with some individuals neglecting education and work in favor of betting. To address this, Malga has implemented various programs, including toll-free lines for reporting suspicious activity and providing counseling for those struggling with gambling addiction.
Betpawa, a mobile sports betting platform owned by Mchezo Limited, operates in 12 African countries.