Where to Get Help With Gambling

Start with what is legal

In South Africa, nobody under 18 may gamble. The legal forms of gambling are casinos, bingo, betting and limited payout machines. They are only fully legal when the operator holds a licence from a Provincial Gambling Board and the player is over 18.

Online casino games are not legal in South Africa. The National Gambling Act prohibits interactive games unless they are authorised, and online casino-type games are not. Online betting through a licensed bookmaker is the exception. Any offshore site without a South African licence operates unlawfully, whatever it claims.

Before you place any bet online, check the operator on the National Gambling Board's list of licensed operators. Licensed online operators also show their licensing details on the home page of their platform. If you cannot find those details, or the operator is not on the list, do not deposit.

Set money and time limits before you play

Limits work best when you set them while calm, not in the middle of a session. Treat gambling as an entertainment cost, like a cinema ticket or a meal out. Money for rent, food, transport, school fees and debt repayments should never be part of it.

The budget planner on this page can help you work out a monthly amount that fits your real income and expenses.

Here is an example of how the arithmetic might look. It is only an illustration:

A few habits make limits easier to keep:

• Decide on a loss limit and a time limit before you start, and stop when you reach either one.
• Bring only the amount you planned. Leave bank cards at home or in the car.
• Set an alarm on your phone for the end of your session.
• Never borrow money to gamble, and never gamble to win back losses.
• Take regular breaks, and avoid gambling when you are stressed, tired or drinking.

Warning signs to watch for

Gambling problems usually build slowly. Be honest with yourself if any of these sound familiar:

• You spend more money or time than you planned, more and more often.
• You chase losses by going back to win the money back.
• You hide your gambling from family or lie about how much you spend.
• You borrow money, sell belongings or miss bills because of gambling.
• You feel restless, irritable or low when you try to cut down.
• Gambling has become the main way you cope with stress or boredom.
• Work, studies or relationships are suffering.

One or two of these signs is reason enough to talk to someone. You do not need to wait until things feel serious.

Self-exclusion in South Africa

Self-exclusion lets you ban yourself from gambling with licensed operators. To start, ask your gambling operator to exclude you. At a casino, the security department handles this. The operator then sends your forms to the Provincial Licensing Authority and the National Gambling Board for record keeping.

After self-excluding, you can contact the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) National Responsible Gambling Programme. Self-exclusion counselling sessions are free.

Draft amendments to the regulations would also let a person apply directly to the National Gambling Board using Form NGB 1/1. Details would go onto a National Register of Excluded Persons that provincial authorities and licensed operators could access. These are proposals, so confirm the current process with the National Gambling Board before relying on them.

Free help lines and contacts

The SARGF counselling line is toll-free and staffed by trained professionals. It offers confidential counselling, assessment and referral to treatment. All SARGF services are free, including outpatient and inpatient treatment.

Call SARGF if you are worried about your own gambling or about someone close to you. Family members can also ask for advice on how to start a difficult conversation.

If you are worried about someone else

Choose a calm moment and talk about what you have noticed, not about blame. Avoid lending money or paying off gambling debts, as this can keep the cycle going. Encourage the person to call the free SARGF line, and offer to sit with them while they do. Look after yourself too: the same line can support you.