South Africa’s gambling boards run underage and illegal gambling awareness campaigns

The National Gambling Board (NGB) ran awareness initiatives in North West province alongside the North West Gambling Board (NWGB) and CoGTA community development workers, according to the NGB. The aim was to warn the public about the dangers of underage and illegal gambling. Commuters, residents and school pupils were among those reached.

At the busy Huhudi taxi rank in Vryburg, the teams met commuters and taxi operators, sharing information, building public trust and urging informed, responsible choices, the NGB said. In Potchefstroom's Chris Hani district, officials went to the Sarafina community. There they discussed the legal and financial dangers of illegal gambling and showed residents how to spot and report unlawful gambling activities.

According to the NGB, the national campaign pays particular attention to growing underage gambling. Facilitators ran workshops at Colinda Senior Secondary School in Vryburg during recent high school visits, teaching learners about gambling risks. The board warned that betting at an early age can give young people a misleading impression, leading them to treat games of chance as a dependable livelihood. It stressed that only adults aged 18 and older may gamble, and that gambling should be seen as entertainment rather than income.

The NGB said these campaigns in communities are meant to help people spot problem gambling and report illegal operators. Partnering with CoGTA Community Development Workers (CDWs) lets regulators share information in local languages and adapt it to the economic circumstances of township households, the board said.

The NGB urged consumers to gamble responsibly: keep to a strict budget and stop once it is gone, avoid gambling while stressed or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, take regular breaks, and never use money set aside for essentials such as rent, food or school fees. Those who cannot control their gambling may apply for listing on the National Register for Excluded Persons under Section 14 of the National Gambling Act, the board said. Such registration legally prevents them from entering licensed gambling premises or placing legal bets anywhere in the country.