With the FIFA World Cup 2026 on everyone’s screens, online gambling has gone through the roof.
You can bet on just about anything: who scores the first goal, time of the first goal, who’s first to be booked, corner count and card count.
In times past you would bet on who wins the game. That’s before the explosion of in-game betting of the kind described above. The odds will change mid-game and that keeps punters hooked.
That might sound like fun, but there is a dark side to it.
A recent study by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) shows about 1-in-20 adults now show signs of problem or pathological gambling. This shows an increase on the previous figure of 3% of adults showing traits of problem gambling.
This comes on top of several earlier studies showing just how massive online gambling is in SA.
The University of the Free State recommends mandatory gambling literacy training be offered to students at higher education institutions to stem the scourge of online gambling and betting. University officials report students blowing their government student grants on gambling.
The UJ study shows economic pressure is a major factor behind the out-of-control gambling problem. Many South Africans, facing high unemployment and cost-of-living challenges, turn to gambling as a perceived “quick fix.” This has led to rising levels of debt, family breakdowns, and even crime linked to gambling addiction.
Provincial data supports the national trend. Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal have seen not able increases in gambling-related harm. The National Gambling Board has also acknowledged the problem, noting a surge in online platforms operating in legal grey areas.
The growth of unregulated or poorly regulated online gambling is making the issue harder to control. Young people, in particular, are being targeted with flashy ads and easy sign-up bonuses.
Experts arecalling for stronger measures, including tighter advertising rules, better ageverification, mandatory self-exclusion tools, and more funding for treatmentand support services.
