Study reveals South Africans sacrificing essentials, borrowing money to fund online gambling
A Yazi study finds many South African online gamblers sacrifice essentials, borrow money, and chase losses despite believing they are in control.Summary
A South African Gambling Impact Study by Yazi found that many South Africans who gamble online say they control their betting, yet their reported behavior suggests financial strain and problem-gambling risks. The May 2026 research surveyed 1,028 South Africans who had gambled online in the previous 30 days and analyzed 2,569 WhatsApp voice notes. While 72% described themselves as in control, 57% had sacrificed essentials such as groceries, airtime, transport, rent, or debt repayments, 29% had borrowed money to keep gambling, and 59% had chased losses by betting again the same day. Other findings included 26% spending more than 10% of monthly income on gambling, 5% being unable to stop when they tried, and 28% being unaware of operator limit-setting tools. The study also found women made up 61% of respondents, challenging assumptions about online gambling demographics. Yazi said the research highlights the need for stronger consumer protection, awareness of responsible gambling tools, and broader discussion among regulators, policymakers, financial institutions, researchers, and civil society as South Africa's gambling industry grows.
(Source：Business Report)