Sun International launched its Group Responsible Gambling Charter in Sandton on Tuesday 13 October, EWN reported. The 16-page document sets out commitments across the group's land-based casinos and online operations, and chief executive Ulrik Bengtsson said Betway is on board with other operators expected to join shortly, according to Algoa FM's Gibbons Report.
What the charter commits to
| Area | Commitment |
|---|---|
| Advertising | Tighter controls on gambling advertising |
| Social grants | Measures on access to gambling by people who receive government social grants |
| Player tools | International certification of its responsible gambling approach and an external audit of its tools and systems |
| Reporting | Results reported to the board and in the annual social and ethics report |
| Monitoring | Tools supported by artificial intelligence to spot players who may be at risk, from 2027 |
The first four rows come from EWN. The monitoring plan for 2027 was reported by TimesLIVE.
"We're also going to do an external audit of our tools and systems so our customers can trust that they are working," Bengtsson told EWN.
Why now
Sun International said South Africa's gambling rules have struggled to keep pace with changes in the industry, and that the charter sets out what operators think future regulation should prioritise. It arrives while government works on a regulatory framework for the sector. The acting head of the National Gambling Board spoke at the launch, and we cover his warning about NSFAS and Sassa money going on bets separately.
What it means for you
A charter is a voluntary promise, not a law, and it only binds the operators that sign it. Nothing changes in the Spina Zonke lobby today. The tools that help are the ones already in your account: a deposit limit, a time-out and self-exclusion. Set the limit before you play, not after a bad night. Our responsible gambling page explains each one. If gambling has stopped being fun, call the National Responsible Gambling Programme on 0800 006 008, free, 24 hours a day. 18+ only.