A growing number of Zimbabweans are appearing before the courts after stealing from employers, relatives and colleagues in desperate attempts to recover money through the online betting game Aviator. Recent cases point to a worrying trend in which gambling is increasingly ending in criminal convictions rather than quick fortunes.

The latest conviction involved William Gonese (28), a Bakers Inn shift manager, who was sentenced to an effective 10 months in prison after stealing US$3 420 from the company during a single night shift before gambling the money on Aviator.

The Harare Magistrates' Court heard that Gonese took the money from the company safe, intending to replace it after winning on the betting platform. Instead, he lost the entire amount. He was initially sentenced to 30 months in prison, but part of the sentence was suspended, leaving him to serve an effective 10 months.

The conviction comes just days after Metro Hypermarket cashier Peter Muza (40) was jailed for an effective four years after stealing US$49 437 entrusted to him by his employer.

The Bindura Magistrates' Court heard that between August 8 and August 29, 2025, Muza consistently banked less money than he had collected from till operators before falsifying daily cash records to conceal the theft.

The stolen money was later squandered on virtual betting platforms, popularly known as "Chindege," or Aviator.

Authorities said theft involving property held in trust remains a serious offence that erodes confidence in workplaces and causes significant financial losses to businesses.

Another case involved Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe employee Pets Napwaro (48), who was arrested after allegedly stealing US$1 500 from a colleague's office before gambling away the entire amount on Aviator.

Prosecutors told the court that Napwaro allegedly entered the office through a partially open window while the complainant was away, stole the cash from a drawer, and later admitted using all the money on an online betting platform.

In Bulawayo, McMillan Zimunhu (22) was arrested after allegedly stealing US$10 300 belonging to his mother—savings she had accumulated over more than a decade.

Police said the money had been hidden in different places around the house since 2013. Investigations established that Zimunhu had been taking the money in stages before losing all of it while gambling on Aviator.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele urged members of the public to avoid keeping large sums of money at home, warning that secure banking facilities remain the safest option.

Away from the courtroom, the financial consequences of Aviator have also played out publicly.

A Harare man recently collapsed inside a Moors World of Sport (MWOS) betting shop after allegedly losing money his brother had entrusted to him to buy stock for a grocery business.

Witnesses said he had hoped to multiply the money through Aviator before losing everything.

A video of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, showed patrons trying to revive the visibly distressed man while a police officer attended to the scene. His identity and the exact amount lost have not been officially established.

The recent cases suggest a common pattern in which individuals steal money believing they will recover it through gambling, only to lose everything and face criminal prosecution.

They include the conviction of Peter Muza, who stole US$49 437 from Metro Hypermarket; William Gonese, who stole US$3 420 from Bakers Inn; the arrest of RBZ employee Pets Napwaro over the alleged theft of US$1 500; the arrest of McMillan Zimunhu for allegedly gambling away his mother's US$10 300 in life savings; and the widely circulated case of a Harare man who collapsed inside a betting shop after losing business money entrusted to him by his brother.

The cases have intensified concerns over the growing social and economic impact of online gambling, with employers, families and law enforcement increasingly bearing the cost of losses linked to attempts to make quick money through Aviator.