Food, rent, and school fees first, gambling board warns
With joblessness climbing, the National Gambling Board warns that gambling must never be treated as a way to make ends meet.
The National Gambling Board has called on South Africans to safeguard household finances and exercise caution with gambling, following the latest unemployment figures.
Statistics South Africa’s quarterly labour force survey, for the second quarter of 2026, shows the official unemployment rate rising from 32.7% to 33.6%.
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About 8.5 million people are unemployed (345 000 more than the previous quarter) and 16.7 million are employed (16 000 fewer). Young people, aged 15 to 24, remain hard hit, with 36.4% neither in employment, education, nor training.
Against this backdrop, the board reminds the public that legal gambling is a form of regulated entertainment. It should never be regarded as a source of income, a remedy for unemployment, or a solution to financial hardship.
The board’s 2023/24 socioeconomic study found gambling participation highest among 25 to 34-year-olds (77%), with 55% of identified problem gamblers in the same age group.
More than half of gamblers (54%) said they used winnings for basic household necessities, and 43% used them to pay debts or bills. Some participants gambled to compensate for lost income.
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Acting chief executive officer Lungile Dukwana said every rand matters in these circumstances. “Food, accommodation, transport, education, and debt repayments must come before gambling.
If you choose to participate, only use money that remains after your essential commitments have been met, and only gamble what you can afford to lose.”
The board is particularly concerned about young people viewing sports betting or other gambling as an alternative way to earn money. It urged the public to use only licensed operators, which can be checked on the board’s verified operators portal.
Free, confidential support is available around the clock through the national responsible gambling programme on 0800 006 008, WhatsApp or SMS 076 675 0710, or email helpline@responsiblegambling.org.za.
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