If gambling is causing harm, stop now
Call the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) toll-free helpline on 0800 006 008. It is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, every day. You can also visit responsiblegambling.org.za for online support.
Set limits before you play
Every SA-licensed operator we review on this site is required by their provincial gambling board to offer deposit limits, session limits, and self-exclusion tools. Use them. Set the limit when you sign up, not after a losing run.
- Deposit limits, daily, weekly or monthly cap on how much you can deposit.
- Session limits, alerts or auto-logout after a set duration.
- Loss limits, cap on net losses across a period.
- Self-exclusion, block your account for 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. Cannot be reversed by you within the period.
Signs of problem gambling
- Chasing losses by depositing more.
- Hiding the amount you bet from family or friends.
- Borrowing money to gamble.
- Missing work, school or family events because of gambling.
- Feeling anxious, depressed or angry about gambling and being unable to stop.
If any of these apply to you or someone you know, the SARGF can help. They offer free counselling, online support, and a 21-day in-patient treatment programme.
Other support
- Gamblers Anonymous South Africa, free peer support groups in major SA cities. Visit gamblersanonymous.org.za.
- South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 0800 70 80 90 for related mental health support.
- Lifeline, 0861 322 322 for crisis counselling.
Age and the law
You must be 18 or older to gamble in South Africa. SA-licensed operators are required to verify age before allowing real-money play. Anyone under 18 caught attempting to gamble commits an offence under the National Gambling Act 7 of 2004.