North West Gambling Board conducts learner awareness programme at Mphuphuthe Primary School
Schoolchildren were cautioned about the negative impact that early exposure to gambling can have on academic performance.
South Africa.- The North West Gambling Board (NWGB) has stepped up its community education efforts with a learner awareness programme at Mphuphuthe Primary School in Bakubung village, Ledig. The initiative is part of the board’s Back to Basics programme, aimed at curbing the rise of unregulated gambling in local communities.
With illegal gambling activities continuing to pose a threat to social well-being and public safety in the Bojanala Platinum District, the Board engaged young learners on the significant risks associated with underage gambling. Officials highlighted that participation in gambling under the age of 18 is unlawful and can have far‑reaching consequences on behaviour, discipline and learners’ future prospects.
Schoolchildren were cautioned about the negative impact that early exposure to gambling can have on academic performance, including absenteeism, poor concentration and an unhealthy focus away from education. The board stressed that gambling at a young age can interfere with a learner’s long‑term aspirations and divert attention from constructive goals.
The awareness drive also included information about legal obligations and protective measures. Learners were encouraged to resist peer pressure and make informed decisions that safeguard their goals and potential. Officials emphasised that licensed gambling operations are tightly regulated under the North West Gambling Act, 2001 (Act No. 2 of 2001), and that unlicensed or illegal gambling operations, including machines operating in tuck shops without a licence, remain a key enforcement priority.
To support those affected by gambling‑related harm, the Board shared details of the free counselling and treatment services offered by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF). Parents, educators and community members were also reminded of reporting mechanisms for suspected illegal gambling activities.
The board’s ongoing outreach reflects its statutory mandate to regulate gambling activities responsibly and protect vulnerable groups, particularly youth, from the social and economic harms of unregulated gambling.
