Limpopo Gambling Board targets illegal Fafi lottery operations
A 2024 study by local researchers estimated that Fafi runners in the province collect thousands of rand daily, largely from working-class families.
South Africa.- The Limpopo Gambling Board has issued a warning about Fafi, an unregulated lottery game that is gaining traction in the townships and villages across the province.
The alert describes Fafi as a persistent draw for residents seeking quick wins, often at the cost of their household budgets. The game, rooted in South Africa’s Chinese immigrant communities, has grown into a numbers-based lottery played in informal settings. In Limpopo’s rural areas, where formal gambling outlets are limited, it fills a gap for low-stakes entertainment.
In Fafi, players select numbers from 1 to 36, each linked to everyday symbols or dreams, such as a king for number one or a car for 17. Runners collect bets door-to-door, typically a few rand at a time, before a draw determines the winner.
This alert follows the board’s ongoing efforts to curb unlicensed gambling. A 2024 study by local researchers estimated that Fafi runners in the province collect thousands of rand daily, largely from working-class families.
In March 2025, the Limpopo Gambling Board cautioned residents against Fafi alongside other unregulated games like dice and cards. Board spokesperson, Thapelo Morero, said at the time: “These activities fall outside our regulations under the National Gambling Act. We license operators to ensure fair play and protect participants, but Fafi operators evade those rules entirely.”
The board warns residents that unregulated games like Fafi offer no protection against rigged draws or operator defaults, leaving bettors vulnerable. It also encouraged individuals to report tips via its hotline, guaranteeing confidentiality for those who shared information about illegal activities.
The board’s campaign reflects a wider provincial trend. In September 2025, authorities conducted raids on suspected underground gambling dens masquerading as internet cafes, seized machines and apprehended those running the operations.
