Gambling will not solve your debt problem and more often than not, it worsens it.
MOST South Africans are not gambling more because times are good. They’re gambling more because money is tight.
South Africa’s gambling industry generated a record R75 billion in gross gambling revenue in 2024/25, while the betting segment alone had already grown dramatically from R8.8bn in 2019/20 to R23.7bn by 2022/23.
Concerningly, 39% of online punters say they are gambling more than they were a year ago according to Trade Intelligence research, while the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) recorded a 55% increase in people seeking help.
Perhaps even more concerningly, some consumers admit that they are now prioritising betting over essentials like groceries.
