RISE Mzansi Sounds the Alarm on South Africa’s Gambling Crisis
RISE Mzansi commits to reforming the gambling industry in South Africa.
Johannesburg: Political movement RISE Mzansi this week reaffirmed its call to tackle the “runaway gambling crisis” in South Africa. The comments were made in a Twitter post, dated at the end of March 2025. The organisation said it was committed to reforming the country’s gambling industry.
It called for urgent interventions following alarming statistics from the National Gambling Board (NGB), revealing a nearly eightfold increase in people seeking help for gambling-related issues.
RISE Mzansi’s National Assembly Caucus Whip, Makashule Gana, has been vocal about these concerns, particularly among young people aged 25 to 35. He says many of them already face disproportionately high unemployment rates. In the social media post, RISE Mzansi reaffirmed its stance, emphasising the need for immediate action to prevent further socio-economic damage.
The Staggering Numbers Behind the Crisis
According to the NGB, South Africans spent an astonishing R1.1 trillion (over USD $54bn) on gambling in the 2023/24 financial year – an increase of 40% from the previous year. Meanwhile, Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) reached nearly R60 billion (over USD$3bn), marking a 25.7% rise compared to 2022/23.
Despite these rising figures, taxes and levies collected amounted to only R4.8 billion (USD $261m), a mere 19% increase year-over-year.
These figures highlight a pressing concern: a significant portion of South Africa’s R7 trillion (USD $381bn) GDP is being funnelled into gambling, often at the expense of its most vulnerable citizens. RISE Mzansi argues that a fair share of this spending likely comes from lower-income groups, given the country’s escalating cost of living.
A Call for Reform
Earlier this year, RISE Mzansi formally requested a meeting with the NGB CEO to discuss protective measures for at-risk individuals especially those dependent on South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants. In a statement, Gana noted that the NGB had a legal mandate to “enhance broad-based public education” and “monitor socio-economic patterns of gambling activity” – which he believes require urgent reinforcement.
RISE Mzansi has been taking a multi-pronged approach to gambling reforms including engaging with governmental stakeholders like the Departments of Social Development, Finance, Sports and Culture, Trade and Industry, sporting bodies, broadcasters and political parties.
Through these engagements, RISE Mzansi aims to develop a comprehensive set of reforms for the gambling industry to prioritise public welfare over what it calls “corporate profit”.
“No country Has Gambled Its Way to Prosperity”
Gana delivered a sobering warning: “No country has gambled its way to prosperity. As a representative of the people of South Africa, I have a duty to ensure that the future of the country is not gambled away.”
As RISE Mzansi pushes for change, the spotlight now shifts to the government and regulatory bodies. Will they heed the call, or will South Africa’s gambling crisis continue unchecked? One thing is certain, the stakes have never been higher.
