Surge in online gambling has dire consequences

IN A RESPONSE to questions raised in a parliamentary committee meeting recently, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is currently on special leave, stated there had been 36 illegal online gambling cases that had been reported to the police over the past five years.

- THABISILE MIYA

The online gambling industry made profits amounting to R59.3 billion, with a trillion worth of wagers recorded last year. This represents the highest record of profits made, indicating an increase in the prevalence of gambling in South Africa. This is largely attributed to the boom in online betting platforms and the increasing presence of gambling adverts in public spaces and on social media.

The growth of smartphone proliferation in the market means younger audiences are connected to the internet and remain exposed to different forms of online harm. In South Africa, sports betting, particularly, has attracted younger online audiences.

Research by an organisation called InfoQuest revealed that online gaming, sports betting and online slot machines are popular favourites among age groups between 18-34 years old. This manner of accessibility means that previous gambling trends, which were situated in casinos, have moved online, making gambling available at the click of a button.

It is important to note that online gambling in South Africa is illegal except for sports betting, usually limited to sports events and horse racing. Forms of gambling which are legal include casinos, bingo, limited payout machines, and wagering.

The current piece of legislation, which regulates gambling, has not been updated to account for the proliferation of other forms of online gambling, which have seen an upsurge in the last few years. This means vulnerable audiences, such as children under the age of 18, are constantly bombarded with gambling adverts on social media.