According to the study, nearly three-quarters (72%) of online gamblers described themselves as being in control of their gambling behaviour.
A new study has revealed that while most South African online gamblers believe they are in control of their betting habits, many are sacrificing basic necessities and borrowing money to continue gambling, raising concerns about the social and financial impact of the country's rapidly growing online gambling industry.
The findings emerged from the South African Gambling Impact Study conducted by Yazi, a South African-founded artificial intelligence-powered consumer research platform.
The research, conducted in May 2026, surveyed 1,028 South Africans who had gambled online within the previous 30 days and analysed 2,569 voice notes collected through the company's WhatsApp-based research platform.
According to the study, nearly three-quarters (72%) of online gamblers described themselves as being in control of their gambling behaviour. However, the data paints a different picture, with many respondents reporting behaviours commonly associated with financial distress and problem gambling.
