ECGB and SARGF take underage gambling awareness to Eastern Cape schools
Regulators have raised concerns about illegal online betting sites that target young people and lack robust age-verification safeguards.
South Africa.- The Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB) and the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) have concluded a targeted awareness campaign aimed at addressing growing concerns about illegal and harmful underage gambling among school pupils in the Eastern Cape. The “Taking Risks Wisely” initiative conducted sessions at ten schools in the greater East London area from February 10 to 13, highlighting the legal and personal risks associated with gambling before the age of 18.
Addressing learners at Isukile High School, ECGB representative Zilungile Kwinana emphasised the importance of educating young people about responsible behaviour and legal protections.
At Masixole High School in Mdantsane, Headmaster Masakhane Greatness Gosaganye said the sessions were “eye-opening” for learners who are increasingly exposed to gambling culture and peer pressure. He cited cases in which pupils accessed betting platforms using their parents’ identity documents without consent, a trend confirmed by SARGF Advocacy and Communications Manager Lebo Seohong.
Seohong noted: “Once something of value is wagered, what could begin as a game becomes gambling,” underscoring how easily minors can circumvent age restrictions.
Under South African law, individuals under the age of 18 are prohibited from gambling. Regulators have raised concerns about illegal online betting sites that target young people and lack robust age-verification safeguards. SARGF is advocating stronger verification measures, including facial recognition or biometric systems on gambling platforms, to prevent minors from opening accounts using stolen identity numbers.
The programme also offered free, confidential counselling services for affected minors, subject to parental consent, as part of broader harm-reduction efforts.
Industry observers note a wider regulatory focus on gambling-related harm, with national campaigns targeting youth and students across all education levels. Recent partnerships between the NGB and the NSFAS aim to curb the misuse of student allowances on online gambling, reflecting broader concerns about the normalisation of betting among young South Africans.
As the foundation prepares to expand “Taking Risks Wisely” into other provinces, organisers have called for continued collaboration among schools, parents and regulatory bodies to protect children from gambling-related harm.
