A week ago, a female teacher shared on social media that she spent all her salary on an online casino within two days after getting paid while trying to make an extra income from gambling. The teacher admitted to being addicted but blamed witchcraft for her addiction. While the teacher said she doesn't even have money for rent or fuel to go to work this month, the South African betting industry, especially sports betting and online casinos, has seen its revenue increase from R8.8 billion during the 2019/20 financial year to R23.7 billion in 2022/23. And this, the ANC Youth League said, is concerning.

GAMBLING CRISIS

The ANCYL said it was alarmed by the rapidly growing gambling crisis within communities. ANCYL spokesperson, Zama Khanyase, said that gambling in the country has grown rapidly as it starts as innocent fun like buying a lottery ticket, placing a bet on sports betting or engaging in online gaming, which often spirals into a dangerous addiction that devastates the lives of families and the society at large. "This problem is exacerbated by the socioeconomic challenges faced by many South Africans, leading individuals to view gambling as a potential lifeline rather than the financial trap it often becomes. The rise in gambling-related issues is not merely a personal problem but a societal one," Khanyase said, adiding that gambling addiction erodes the mental health of individuals, leading to depression, anxiety, and in some cases, even suicide. "Families are torn apart as financial resources meant for basic needs like food, education and healthcare are squandered on gambling. The youth, in particular, are at risk and lured by the promise of quick riches in a context where economic opportunities are scarce and unemployment rates are high."

MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GAMBLING

In June, a study by an online market research company, Infoquest, revealed that the people who are more involved in gambling are between the ages of 18 and 34. The study also found that young people who participated in online gambling did so at least 11 times a month, with 39% of them using their winnings to gamble again while 30% claimed they were gambling with excess funds. According to the National Gambling Board annual report for 2022/23, the number of people sent for treatment has doubled from 1 151 in the 2020/21 financial year to 2 299 in 2022/23. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) says the number of gamblers who voluntarily asked to be banned from all gambling platforms has nearly quadrupled in the last four years, from 231 in 2019 to 790 in 2024.