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South Africans are facing tougher economic conditions, and the National Gambling Board (NGB) has stepped in with a warning.
Following the release of Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2026, the regulator urged households to protect their income and approach gambling with caution.
The survey showed unemployment rising from 32.7% in the first quarter to 33.6% in the second, leaving about 8.5 million people without work. Young people remain especially vulnerable, with more than a third of those aged 15 to 24 neither employed nor in education or training.
In light of this, the NGB reminded the public that gambling is entertainment, not a way to earn a living or solve financial hardship.
NGB’s own research shows worrying data on gambling participation
The NGB’s own socio‑economic research shows how closely gambling ties into household pressures.
In its 2023/24 study, participation was highest among people aged 25 to 34, with 77% of respondents in that group saying they gamble. Alarmingly, 55% of problem gamblers also fall within that age bracket.
The study found that more than half of gamblers use winnings to buy basic necessities, while 43% use them to pay debts or bills. Some even gamble to make up for lost income, a trend the Board described as worrying.
Severe economic strain, it warned, can make the idea of a quick win look attractive, but gambling always carries the risk of financial loss. Chasing losses, the Board cautioned, only deepens financial distress.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Lungile Dukwana stressed that every rand matters in the current stand of things. “Food, accommodation, transport, education and debt repayments must come before gambling. If you choose to participate, only use money that remains after your essential commitments have been met and only gamble what you can afford to lose. Protect the money you have to sustain your family.”
He added that the Board’s message is aimed especially at young people, who face high levels of exclusion from jobs and education.
“We recognise the heavy burdens facing young people across the country. Our message is not one of judgement, but of protection. Gambling is an uncertain activity and there is no guarantee of winning. It should never replace the pursuit of sustainable employment, education or other legitimate opportunities for economic participation.”
SA continues black market crackdown amid calls for prediction market ban
The NGB warnings follow a wider push against unregulated gambling in South Africa. Earlier this month, the country’s new Illegal Gambling Task Team carried out its first raids in Limpopo, arresting 13 people and shutting down five businesses that posed as internet cafés while allegedly offering illegal gambling.
Cash was seized, fines were issued, and criminal cases opened. The task team, which brings together the NGB, provincial regulators, and the police, plans to expand operations across all nine provinces.
At the same time, the South African Bookmakers Association (SABA) has urged lawmakers to ban prediction markets until a clear legal framework exists.
These platforms allow bets on political outcomes, business decisions, and other real‑world events, raising integrity concerns. SABA pointed to reports of wagers on Johannesburg’s mayoral race as proof of how quickly the products are spreading.
The association argues that without oversight, prediction markets risk insider activity, corruption, and consumer harm.
