North West Gambling Board educates Khunwana residents on responsible gambling
The regulator highlighted the lack of legal protection for consumers who use unlicensed gambling operations.
South Africa.- The North West Gambling Board (NWGB) has taken its gambling education campaign to Khunwana Village in Tswaing Local Municipality, where residents were briefed on responsible gambling and the risks associated with illegal gambling operations.
The outreach was conducted jointly with the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), the Liquor Regulators and the Consumer Affairs Unit as part of the build-up activities for the Thuntsa Lerole service delivery programme.
During the campaign, NWGB officials encouraged community members to approach gambling cautiously and within set limits. Residents were advised to gamble only with money they could afford to lose, establish personal spending limits and avoid attempting to recover previous losses by continuing to gamble.
The Board also used the outreach to highlight the risks associated with illegal gambling operations. It warned residents against participating in gambling activities offered by unlicensed operators, noting that such businesses operate outside the legal and regulatory framework.
The regulator said some illegal operators use social media advertisements, messaging platforms and deceptive links to attract players. Some platforms may also display fabricated winnings and demand additional payments when users attempt to withdraw funds.
According to the NWGB, people who use illegal gambling operators are not protected by law in the same way as customers of licensed gambling businesses. It therefore called on residents to report suspected illegal gambling operations, noting that tackling illegal gambling requires continued cooperation between regulators, law enforcement agencies and communities.
