Peter Vanasiyo, 27, on Tuesday got a K200 million cash prize transfer from BetPawa, an online betting brand after flying an aerogame online.

Vanasiyo, a farmer from Ntcheu who also runs a motorbike taxi business in the central region district, says he was introduced to BetPawa's Casino Games by his friends.

"The win came as a surprise because just playing for fun. I don't think anyone ever really sees it coming. As for me, I didn't even have a feeling, I just let the game go... the feeling is unbelievable!"

BetPawa's Southern Africa Marketing Manager Bwalya Musonda Noah said this is a testimony that the brand is the home of big winners.

"When we say you can bet small and win Big, we mean it. Vanasiyo played with only K 100 per bet where he placed two similar bets to win K 200 million in total," "Even as we continue to see more winners on our platform, we pay out every win promptly. Rest be assured all payouts are guaranteed whether the amount is big or small," he said.

Easy come ­­­- easy go, so goes an old adage. This according to a financial literacy expert Bernard Chiluzi has been the trend of most bet prize money winners, who are overnight millionaires and go broke the next morning.

Chiluzi, writing on his Facebook page on 16 April, 2024 observed that there is no short-cut to making incredible money.

On Tuesday, the author asked Venasiyo, the betpawa winner, how he intends to sustain his newly found riches.

Smiling, he said: “You know, I am a big time farmer back home in Ntcheu. I have already invested about K10 million in my farm and motorbike taxi business – this money will boost my investments and I intend to venture in real estate.”

“When I go back home, I want to buy more land and build modern houses which I will be renting out.”

He urged fellow gamblers to view betting as entertainment rather than a primary source of income, and to invest any significant winnings wisely.

Vanasiyo’s sentiments aligns with advice from Chiluzi.

“It’s not about how much money you earn that matters but what you do with the money that you earn. Don’t be discouraged, even with small money you earn from your salary or business just invest it well and increase financial sources whilst applying basic financial principles.”

The comments resonate with the experiences of other gamblers who, despite winning big, have struggled to improve their lives.