Unemployment and gambling addiction: 35 percent of those seeking help rely on SASSA grants
The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation has revealed that 35% of people seeking help for gambling addiction are unemployed and depend on SASSA social grants.
Image: File
The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation has revealed that 35% of people seeking help for gambling addiction are unemployed and depend on SASSA social grants.
IOL previously reported that gambling now accounts for 1.6% of total household spending, making it the 12th highest expense, just behind beer, according to Statistics South Africa.
According to the 2025 Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor (OMSIM), a report that tracks the shifting financial attitudes and behaviours of working South Africans, around 52% of employed adults participate in gambling.
"A staggering 52% of working South Africans gamble, with incidence being highest among 30 – 49 year-olds (58%) and men (57%)," the report noted.
In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, Sibongile Simelane-Quntana, Executive Director of the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation, highlighted the growing social and economic impacts of gambling addiction across the country.
“We know for a fact that the people who are actually affected by gambling and problem gambling, including gambling disorder, those are your lower LSM people. That is your lower standard of living, measure income earners,” Quntana said.
She added that of the 4,661 people they have helped, about 35% are unemployed and depend on SASSA social grants.
“From the 4,661 individuals that we have referred, only a fraction, about 35%, are actually unemployed. Now, if you were to ask me, the 35% that have come forward and say that they've got a gambling problem, that is a huge number because those are the individuals that the first question we need to ask ourselves, where is the money coming from?”.
“Most of those people are actually Sasa dependent, and some are actually the 350 grant recipients. People are actually unable to pay school fees, are unable to put the basic needs on the table of their families due to gambling addiction.”
Meanwhile, Rise Mzansi has also introduced a petition calling for stricter regulation of gambling advertisements, proposing that ads be limited to between 10 am and 6 pm, and 10 pm to midnight.
"This measure is not just a restriction; it is a necessary step toward protecting individuals, especially minors and those prone to addiction, from the adverse effects of excessive gambling advertising," the party said.
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