Limpopo to hold month-long responsible gambling campaign in November

The campaign will coincide with the International Association of Gaming Regulators’ Illegal Gambling Awareness Week from November 9 to 13.

Key takeaways:

• The Limpopo Gambling Board (LGB) will run a month-long responsible gambling campaign across all five districts of the province in November 2026.
• The campaign will include face-to-face engagements at licensed casinos, bookmakers, totalisators, bingo venues and limited payout machine sites.
• The LGB will work with gambling licensees, the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation, the National Gambling Board and other stakeholders.
• The campaign will discourage people from using social grants, student funding or money set aside for essential household expenses to gamble.
• The LGB will also take part in the International Association of Gaming Regulators’ Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, scheduled for November 9 to 13.

South Africa.- The Limpopo Gambling Board (LGB) has unveiled plans for its month-long responsible gambling campaign, scheduled to run across all five districts of the province in November 2026. The outreach programme will include face-to-face engagements at licensed casinos, bookmakers, totalisators, bingo venues and limited payout machine sites. The LGB will also work with gambling licensees, the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF), National Gambling Board (NGB) and other stakeholders to deliver the activities.

In a statement released on Thursday, October 29, the Board said the campaign would focus on discouraging people from using social grants, student funding and money set aside for essential household expenses to gamble. The regulator said gambling should remain a lawful and affordable form of entertainment rather than a source of income or a way to address financial difficulties.

The first phase will take place in Capricorn from November 2 to 6, covering Polokwane and Bochum, before moving to Waterberg from November 9 to 11 for activities in Lephalale, Bela-Bela and Mokopane. Mopani will host the campaign from November 16 to 18, with engagements in Tzaneen, Phalaborwa, Namakgale and Giyani. The final round will cover Sekhukhune and Vhembe from November 24 to 26, with visits to Burgersfort, Steelpoort, Groblersdal, Musina, Thohoyandou and Malamulele.

During the engagements, LGB representatives will provide information on safer gambling practices, explain the warning signs of problem gambling and outline available self-help and referral services. They will also encourage residents to report illegal gambling activities.

The regulator raised concerns about the growth of betting, particularly illegal online betting, advising customers to verify an operator’s licence through the LGB website or the NGB portal before depositing money or placing bets. The Board warned that both illegal gambling operators and people participating in illegal gambling activities could face arrest and prosecution. It said it would continue investigations and joint operations with law enforcement agencies across the province.

The regulator will also participate in the International Association of Gaming Regulators’ (IAGR) Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, scheduled for November 9 to 13. The initiative follows a resolution adopted at the association’s conference, held in Lima, Peru, from October 19 to 22.