Acting National Gambling Board (NGB) chief executive Lungile Dukwana says some students are using their NSFAS allowances to gamble, and some Sassa grant recipients are betting money meant for basic needs. He spoke at the launch of Sun International's responsible gambling charter in Sandton on Tuesday, TimesLIVE reported.
"It should be a concern for all of us because the NSFAS students are part of the future of our country," Dukwana said. TimesLIVE notes that no figures were given on how many students or grant recipients gamble, or how much they spend.
What the regulator is working on
- Advertising norms and standards to protect minors, consumers and vulnerable people, Dukwana said.
- An education partnership with NSFAS on the risks of online and illegal gambling, announced in February.
- A partnership with the Advertising Regulatory Board, announced in September, to oversee gambling adverts on traditional and digital platforms, as EWN reported.
Dukwana said operators need working age checks, player monitoring and self-exclusion tools. "Protection cannot rely solely on the information provided at the point of sale," he said.
The numbers quoted at the launch
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross gambling revenue, 2024/25 (NGB figures) | R74.9 billion |
| Gambling taxes, 2024/25 | R5.8 billion |
| Collected by the Gauteng gambling board, same year | R1.25 billion |
| Active bettors in major African markets who bet on mobile (GeoPoll) | About 95% |
All four figures are from the TimesLIVE report. The first three were cited by Gauteng economic development MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, who also called for responsible advertising and self-exclusion that is easy to reach.
What it means for you
Expect stricter rules on where and how betting adverts appear once the NGB's norms are final. For players the rule is simpler: never stake money meant for fees, food, rent or transport. A slot does not pay back a shortfall, and no betting pattern changes that. If you are a student or on a grant and want a hard stop, ask your operator for self-exclusion. Our responsible gambling page shows how, and the NRGP helpline is 0800 006 008, free, 24 hours a day.