South African Society of Psychiatrists warns about rise in online gambling addiction
More than 40 per cent of callers to the National Responsible Gambling Programme’s toll-free helpline said they felt unable to stop gambling without professional help.
South Africa.- The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) has raised concerns about the rise in mental health issues caused by the surge in online gambling addiction in South Africa.
The group cited data from the National Responsible Gambling Programme, which revealed a 623 per cent surge in calls to its toll-free gambling helpline, rising from 140,000 to more than one million year-on-year.
The warning comes as the nation marks Responsible Gambling Month in November. Dr Mahlatse Thosago from SASOP pointed to more statistics revealing the links between gambling addiction and other problems.
She said: “More than 40 per cent of callers to the National Responsible Gambling Programme’s toll-free helpline said they felt unable to stop gambling without professional help. Thirty-two per cent were experiencing financial problems due to gambling, and 13 per cent reported legal issues. At the same time, 14 per cent were receiving help for other mental conditions, 11 per cent reported alcohol abuse and 6 per cent were using illicit drugs.”
Online sports betting has experienced rapid growth in South Africa, fuelled by advancements in mobile technology and increased internet penetration.
According to the National Gambling Board, gross gambling revenue for the 2024/25 financial year reached R75bn (€3.95bn), with online betting contributing about 60 per cent of the revenue. Some reports put total turnover at R1.5trn (€79bn) wagered during the same period.
However, responsible gambling advocates point to the human cost, which includes increased addiction, financial hardship and mental health issues, raising concerns about the industry’s impact on vulnerable individuals and communities.
Parliament debated the issue in mid-October 2025, with Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana proposing stricter advertising controls and calling the surge in gambling spending “a national public-health crisis”.
In an interview with SABC News, Dr Thabo Mokhotlane, another member of SASOP, said that while the government is making efforts, there is still a need for improvement, particularly in raising awareness and implementing stricter regulations on gambling activities and advertising.
He concluded that individuals can know they have gambling problems when they start chasing losses, become irritable, spend beyond their means and others around them begin to express concerns.
