Why gambling isn't the answer

LET'S talk straight: life in South Africa is financially brutal right now. Food prices are climbing, electricity is unpredictable, and jobs are scarce. For many, the pressure is relentless. So when gambling flashes its neon promises, quick wins, instant cash, a way out, it's tempting.

- DIEKETSENG MALEKE

But here's the truth: gambling is not a financial strategy. It's a trap disguised as hope.

According to the National Gambling Board, South Africans wagered over R1.14 trillion in the last financial year. That's not just a few Lotto tickets or a night at the casino; that's a nation in distress. And it's not just about entertainment anymore.

The 2024 Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor found that 36% of gamblers say they do it to pay off debt or cover living expenses.

Among low-income earners, that number jumps to 41%. That's not fun, it's survival.

But survival through gambling is a dangerous illusion. Take Sibongile Nkabinde, whose story was shared by IOL. In her twenties, she won R30 000 at Sun City and thought she'd found her lucky break. Instead, that win triggered a 20-year descent into addiction. “The thrill of the games, and the rush of more wins drew me in,” she says.