In a public responsible gambling message released on Wednesday, July 8, the regulator reminded consumers that gambling should be treated as entertainment rather than a source of income. It urged bettors to assess whether they could afford to lose the money they intended to stake and to set spending limits before placing any wagers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MER said the accessibility of online betting through mobile phones and computers has made gambling easier than ever during major sporting events, making it important for consumers to exercise self-control. The regulator urged players to treat gambling as a form of entertainment rather than a way to make money and to stop if they felt they were losing control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The regulator also outlined several indicators that may suggest gambling has become harmful. These include attempting to recover previous losses through additional betting, borrowing money to gamble, spending money allocated for essential household needs, relationship difficulties linked to gambling, ongoing stress, and difficulty stopping betting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MER further appealed to parents and guardians to help prevent underage gambling by monitoring young people\u2019s online activity, securing betting accounts, and discussing the risks associated with gambling. It reiterated that licensed gambling operators are only permitted to accept players aged 18 years and older<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumers were also advised to use only licensed gambling operators that operate under regulatory oversight and are required to implement responsible gambling measures. The regulator cautioned that illegal gambling platforms may expose users to financial losses and risks involving their personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of its responsible gambling campaign, MER encouraged players to follow basic harm-reduction measures, including gambling only with disposable income, avoiding borrowed money, not chasing losses, taking regular breaks, and avoiding gambling while under the influence of alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The regulator also reminded members of the public that free and confidential assistance is available through South Africa\u2019s National Responsible Gambling Programme<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MER said it will continue promoting responsible gambling awareness while working to protect consumers and encourage safer participation in regulated gambling activities throughout the World Cup.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/06\/bga_bos_summit-300x200.jpeg\")
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