South Africa\u2019s gambling industry has reached a turnover of about R1.5 trillion, while the number of people seeking help for gambling problems has surged by 60%, according to the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation.<\/p>\n
The organisation says the growth of digital gambling and widespread access is increasing the risk of people gambling irresponsibly.<\/p>\n
Industry growth sparks concern<\/p>\n
The Foundation\u2019s Executive Director, Sibongile Simelane-Quntana, said the scale of gambling activity in the country is worrying.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should be worried\u2026 the industry reached about R1.5 trillion in the previous financial year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Simelane-Quntana said this translated into gross gambling revenue of about R75 billion.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the foundation has recorded a sharp rise in people asking for help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a 60% increase in the number of people that are seeking help,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Debt and desperation are driving gambling<\/p>\n
Many people gamble while already under financial pressure, hoping to recover losses or escape debt.<\/p>\n
Contana said the situation is worsened by a difficult economic environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all under pressure\u2026 compounded by a contracting economic environment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to the Foundation\u2019s statistics, 88% of people who seek help are already in debt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can\u2019t pay the rent, they don\u2019t know how to put food on the table,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Easy access increases risk<\/p>\n
Simelane-Quntana warned that gambling has become easier than ever to access.<\/p>\n
She said gambling options are increasingly integrated into digital platforms and widely available through thousands of retail outlets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more there is accessibility\u2026 the likelihood that people are going to gamble irresponsibly and out of desperation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Helping someone with a gambling problem<\/p>\n
Simelane-Quntana said helping someone with a gambling addiction is difficult because the person must first recognise the problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith any addiction\u2026 if you push somebody towards getting help, they don\u2019t see that they\u2019ve got a problem,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She added that many people only seek assistance after reaching a crisis point.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople come in when they are desperate.\u201d<\/p>\n