SARGF expands school campaign against underage gambling in Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape

The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation has taken its Taking Risk Wisely School Edition to selected schools in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape, aiming to educate learners about illegal gambling, risky behaviour and early signs of gambling-related harm.

The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation ran its Taking Risk Wisely School Edition in selected schools across Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape from May 11 to May 15. The initiative forms part of the National Responsible Gambling Programme and focuses on helping school children and young adults understand the risks linked to gambling, impulsive decision-making and other harmful behaviours.

The programme was carried out in partnership with the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator, the Eastern Cape Gambling Board and the Hollywood Foundation. It included school visits, awareness sessions and the distribution of educational materials designed to explain the financial, social and psychological consequences of gambling and risky behaviour.

In the Eastern Cape, the rollout targeted learners in areas including Motherwell and New Brighton. SARGF executive director Sibongile Simelane-Quntane said underage gambling remains illegal, but warned that it has become attractive to some children, especially in communities affected by financial pressure, stress and peer influence.

The campaign also addresses the wider environment in which minors may be exposed to gambling. According to SARGF, risk factors include peer pressure, access to illegal gambling, exposure to gambling culture, advertising and the normalisation of risky behaviour. The organisation says the goal of the school edition is to support harm reduction, coping strategies and informed decision-making among learners.

The Hollywood Foundation has been one of the key supporters of the programme. It says its partnership with SARGF has helped expand the Taking Risks Wisely initiative into classrooms, communities and support services, with the campaign previously reaching more than 75,000 learners and over 2,400 teachers across all nine provinces in 2024.

The SARGF is a public-private initiative involving South Africa’s gambling regulators and the gambling industry. Its flagship National Responsible Gambling Programme combines education, research and treatment, while its counselling line offers free support and referrals for people affected by gambling harm.

For South Africa, the latest school rollout shows that responsible gambling policy is increasingly moving beyond casinos and betting shops into early prevention. As online betting and informal gambling become easier for young people to encounter, school-based education may become one of the most important tools for reducing long-term harm and strengthening public awareness.