A stark warning has been issued by the National Gambling Board (NGB) as new data reveals a dramatic surge in problem gambling in South Africa, with distress calls to a national helpline skyrocketing from approximately 140,000 to 1.1 million in the past year.
This troubling trend coincides with a period of massive expansion for the gambling sector, which generated a record R75-billion in gross gambling revenue in the 2024 financial year.
In an interview, the NGB’s Acting CEO, Lungile Dukwana, acknowledged the economic benefits of the industry’s growth, which has created thousands of jobs, but emphasized that the “well-being of its people must not be compromised.”
The most striking indicator of a growing crisis is the data from the National Responsible Gambling Foundation. The near 700% increase in distress calls points to a rapid escalation in gambling-related harm.
Dukwana outlined the severe dangers of problem gambling, where the activity shifts from recreation to a desperate attempt to generate income. “It is very dangerous,” he stated. “The basics that you’re supposed to be covering in the house, you [are] unable to cover them. The kids may go hungry… Some of your belongings may be repossessed.”
A primary challenge, according to Dukwana, is the rise of online and mobile betting. “The digital age has actually given us a lot of challenges,” he said, noting that it makes monitoring difficult and facilitates access from anywhere at any time.
He highlighted the particular threat of illegal online gambling operators, who operate without consumer safeguards. The NGB is working with institutions like banks to develop self-exclusion mechanisms, such as allowing individuals to block their own cards from gambling transactions.
The proliferation of gambling advertising was also flagged as a “very big problem.” Dukwana said the board is working to regulate advertisements, ensuring they do not target vulnerable groups and are not aired during times when those groups are most likely to be exposed.
When questioned on whether socio-economic pressures like high unemployment and the cost of living are fueling the crisis, Dukwana conceded that these factors are significant contributors. “The reality is that the socio-economic issues that we find ourselves in do contribute to the higher levels of gambling,” he said.
The NGB has found evidence that some citizens are using social grants and students are using National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances to gamble. In response, the board is launching joint programs with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and universities to raise awareness.
Dukwana cautioned against relying solely on legislation to solve the problem, stressing the importance of continuous public education. “We must always be clear that gambling is not an answer to some of the challenges that you may be facing,” he said, adding that gambling affects people across all income levels and should not be stigmatized as solely a problem of the poor.
As the sector continues to post record revenues, the National Gambling Board faces the complex task of balancing the industry’s economic contributions with the urgent need to protect South African consumers from the escalating risks of addiction and financial ruin.