South Africa’s Gambling Boom Sparks Urgent Calls for Responsible Betting at 2025 Summit

A R1.5 trillion industry grapples with its dark side. Can South Africa curb problem gambling while protecting jobs and economic growth? Leaders weigh in.

, and Administrator

2025 November 14 . 4:01 AM

1 min read

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South Africa’s Gambling Boom Sparks Urgent Calls for Responsible Betting at 2025 Summit

The South African Responsible Gambling Summit 2025 kicked off on 13 November at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. Over 400 delegates, including regulators, educators, and industry leaders, gathered to discuss the growing issue of problem gambling and the industry's social responsibility.

The summit opened with a presentation by Sibongile Simelane-Quntana, Executive Director of SARGF. She shared research highlighting factors influencing betting habits and vulnerability to problem gambling. Sanele Zondi, Secretary-General of TVETCGC, addressed youth gambling, warning of students using stipends for online betting.

Lungile Dukwana, Acting CEO of the National Gambling Board (NGB), emphasized the need to balance economic opportunity with social responsibility. Klaas Mokaba of the Department of Trade and Industry reiterated the illegality of online gambling and cautioned against misleading advertising. Adv Joe Nalane SC, SARGF Board Chairperson, highlighted the industry's growing commitment to responsible gambling.

South Africa's gambling industry generated over R1.5 trillion in turnover and R75 billion in gross gambling revenue (GGR) in 2024/25, with 60% from online betting. Despite this, problem gambling prevalence stands at 31%, and illegal gambling is on the rise. The industry supports over 33,000 direct jobs and contributes 0.83% to the country's GDP.

The Responsible Gambling Summit 2025 brought together key stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities in South Africa's entertainment industry. With problem gambling prevalence high and illegal gambling rising, the summit underscored the importance of balancing economic growth with social responsibility.