Absa Group to factor gambling spend into lending risk assessments
According to CEO Kenny Fihla, analysis conducted within the unit shows a correlation between higher levels of debt and increased gambling activity among customers.
South Africa.- South Africa-based financial services provider Absa Group has announced plans to integrate customer gambling spending patterns into lending risk evaluations, citing internal data connecting increased gambling activity to rising borrower debt levels.
Group Chief Executive Kenny Fihla said the bank’s Personal and Private Banking (PPB) unit in the country has begun incorporating gambling trends into its decision logic when assessing lending applications and monitoring credit risk.
According to Fihla, analysis conducted within the unit shows a correlation between higher levels of debt and increased gambling activity among customers. He said gambling expenditure often rises as individuals experience financial pressure.
Fihla explained: “The more clients become indebted, the more they gamble and the deeper the hole becomes.”
Spending data previously published by the bank indicates sustained growth in gambling transactions in South Africa. Absa’s Merchant Spend Analytics data showed card spending on gambling increased by 17 per cent from the start of the year to date, even as overall consumer spending declined. Online gambling accounted for around 61 per cent of gambling transactions by mid-2025, compared with 26 per cent in 2022.
The bank said the rise in gambling expenditure diverts household income away from other financial obligations and productive economic activity, increasing the likelihood of credit stress.
Absa plans to use the insights to tailor financial advice, promote responsible borrowing and monitor accounts more closely where gambling-related spending appears high. Fihla emphasised that the approach is intended to protect both customers and the bank. It will also complement existing credit risk tools, rather than penalise customers for casual or responsible gambling.
Absa’s initiative aligns with broader efforts to improve financial literacy and encourage responsible gambling, as the sector seeks to balance consumer protection with access to credit, particularly as online gambling continues to rise.
Meanwhile, the bank has released its FY25 results, revealing a 12 per cent year-on-year increase in adjusted earnings to R24.76bn (€1.24bn). Revenue from its South African operations rose 7 per cent to R17bn (€850m), while revenue from outside the country amounted to R7.8bn (€390m), surging 25 per cent year-on-year.
