South Africa’s digital gambling boom is becoming a youth financial wellbeing issue. In the 2024/25 financial year, the National Gambling Board (NGB) reported that South Africans wagered approximately R1.5 trillion, with gross gambling revenue reaching about R74.9 billion. Betting now accounts for the largest share of the sector, driven by online access, smartphones, advertising and economic pressure.
For young people already under financial strain, the danger is not always one large loss. It is the repeated R20, R50 or R100 that disappears before it can be used for transport, data, food, savings or debt repayments.
“When money is tight, gambling can start to look like a shortcut,” says Tshepo Kgapane, Product Lead at free digital financial education platform Blackbullion South Africa. “But a R100 bet may be the same money that could have paid for data, transport, a meal, or the start of an emergency buffer. Repeated often enough, it becomes a serious financial leak.”
The most recent ZAKA Index (2025), Blackbullion South Africa’s recurring youth cost-of-living study, found that 82% of South Africans aged 18 to 35 earn less than R6,000 per month. Food is the biggest monthly expense for 51% of respondents, while 51% report feeling financially stressed every day. Four in five say they have skipped meals or delayed important payments because of a lack of funds.
“If you save R100 once a week, that becomes R5,200 in a year before interest,” says Kgapane. “That could support job-seeking costs, course materials, transport, or an emergency fund. If that same R100 is gambled, the most likely outcome is that it is gone, and the emotional response is often to chase the loss with more money.”
Concerns around gambling behaviour are also starting earlier. Wits University has warned about gambling-like mechanics in digital gaming environments, including virtual currencies, paid randomised rewards, reward loops and time-limited purchase pressure. These practices can normalise gambling-like behaviour before young people are equipped to understand the financial risks.
“Most young people are not careless with money. Many are trying to survive in a high-cost environment with very little room for error,” explains Kgapane. “The starting point is honest education around risk, trade-offs and what money could become if it is protected instead of chased.”
Leana de Beer, Founder and CEO of WaFunda, says gambling must be understood within the broader picture of youth financial pressure. “Young people are navigating a difficult financial environment, and many are looking for ways to stretch limited income or find creative ways to diversify income,” says de Beer. ““This is where financial literacy plays a critical role. Young people need the knowledge and confidence to recognise the risks of behaviours like gambling and understand the long-term impact of their financial decisions.
WaFunda is Blackbullion Global’s exclusive South African partner, providing free, youth-focused financial education through the Blackbullion platform to help young people build essential money skills and confidence.
For young people who are worried about their gambling behaviour, or who feel they are starting to lose control, De Beer suggests the following:
- Track the real spend. Look at betting history, bank statements and e-wallet transactions to understand how much is actually going to gambling each week or month.
- Set a money boundary before payday. Move essential money for food, transport, rent, data and debt payments before gambling apps or betting platforms can access it.
- Remove easy access. Delete gambling apps, remove saved card details, unsubscribe from betting messages and avoid platforms that make it easy to place impulsive bets.
- Use self-exclusion tools. Many licensed operators allow people to voluntarily block themselves from gambling platforms for a set period.
- Tell someone you trust. Gambling thrives in secrecy. Speaking to a friend, family member, counsellor or support organisation can create accountability.
- Do not chase losses. Treat lost money as gone. Trying to win it back often leads to deeper losses and more financial pressure.
- Ask for help early. Support is available through the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation’s National Responsible Gambling Programme, which offers free, confidential help through its 24-hour counselling line on 0800 006 008.
Blackbullion South Africa is now inviting young people to participate in the ZAKA Index 2.0 survey, which aims to better understand youth financial behaviours, challenges and aspirations, including budgeting, saving, investing, debt, financial stress and gambling behaviours.
“We want to serve young people better by listening to what they are experiencing,” says De Beer. “The more we understand about their financial realities, the better we can build tools and content that help them make smarter, more confident decisions.”
The ZAKA Index 2.0 survey is now live. Young South Africans and organisations working with youth are encouraged to complete and share the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W3DH85S