{"id":3184,"date":"2025-05-22T09:06:14","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T12:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/?p=3184"},"modified":"2026-04-19T16:50:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T19:50:19","slug":"south-africa-establishes-online-support-group-for-gambling-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/south-africa-establishes-online-support-group-for-gambling-addiction","title":{"rendered":"South Africa establishes online support group for gambling addiction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New group offers hope, healing, and community for hundreds battling gambling addiction in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

South Africa.- A game-changing new initiative has been launched by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)<\/strong> and is a beacon of hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Launched under the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP)<\/strong>, an innovative online support group has already assisted more than 400 individuals in its first year, each one stepping forward to reclaim control over their lives, often in silence, and often alone. But not anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This virtual initiative, rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cI am because we are\u201d<\/em> \u2013 is tearing down the walls of shame and secrecy that have long isolated those grappling with this hidden addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By fostering a sense of community, the programme is shifting the narrative from solitary struggle to collective healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur support group is more than a resource; it\u2019s a lifeline. By embracing Ubuntu, we remind participants that healing thrives in community,\u201d says Sibongile Simelane-Quntana<\/strong>, Executive Director of SARGF, according to the IOL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe courage to say, \u2018I need help,\u2019 is met with immediate support from peers who truly understand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatsapp 24\/7 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The group uses WhatsApp<\/strong> for round-the-clock messaging and holds weekly sessions via Microsoft Teams, making it easy to access help at any hour, from anywhere. These safe, judgement-free spaces are where stories are shared, coping strategies swapped, and accountability reinforced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the emotional lifeline, the programme aligns with legal safeguards outlined in South Africa\u2019s National Gambling Act of 2004<\/strong>, including voluntary and third-party exclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 2024\/2025 financial year alone, over 4,000 referrals were handled, 902 of them for self-exclusion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anonymity has played a vital role in reducing stigma and encouraging participation. Many members now report being six months or more gambling-free, focusing on healing fractured relationships and rebuilding financial stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With plans to expand through regional hubs and local partnerships, SARGF is reimagining the future of recovery in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t\t\tSee also:<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tSee also:<\/span> Responsible gambling summit to be held in South Africa<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New group offers hope, healing, and community for hundreds battling gambling addiction in South Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2396,"featured_media":3187,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"is_press_release":false,"is_interview":false,"is_opinion":false,"focusai_summary":"The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) has launched an innovative online support group under its National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP), assisting over 400 individuals battling gambling addiction in its first year. This initiative, leveraging WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams, aligns with the National Gambling Act of 2004 by facilitating self-exclusion and fostering community-based recovery. The program demonstrates a proactive approach to responsible gambling, with plans for further expansion.","focusai_entities":"South African Responsible Gambling Foundation, SARGF, National Responsible Gambling Programme, NRGP, Sibongile Simelane-Quntana, IOL, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams","focusai_location":"South Africa","focusai_target_profile":"ceo_executive (0.9), regulator (1.0), compliance_legal (1.0), operator_casino (0.9), investor_analyst (0.7), supplier_vendor (0.7), journalist_researcher (0.9)","focusai_suggestions":[{"label":"SARGF Funding Model?","query":"What is the funding model for SARGF's expanded responsible gambling initiatives, and what role do licensed operators play in its financial sustainability?"},{"label":"Regulatory Impact?","query":"How will the success of SARGF's online support group influence future amendments or enforcement priorities under South Africa's National Gambling Act of 2004?"}],"footnotes":""},"categories":[60011],"tags":[60171,60280,1593],"class_list":["post-3184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-south-africa","tag-gambling-addiction","tag-online-support-group","tag-responsible-gambling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2396"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3184"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3191,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3184\/revisions\/3191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}