You thought gambling in SA was bad enough as it is, but it’s getting worse.
A new study by research house Trade Intelligence shows 39% of online punters are gambling more than they did a year ago. More worrying is the fact that gamblers are sacrificing other spending priorities, particularly groceries, to place bets.
Some 65% of those surveyed cited ‘making more money’ as a top reason for gambling. The thrill and excitement of betting was less of a motivation, challenging the assumption that gambling is purely for entertainment.
Research such as this – coming on top of other studies released in 2025 – shows many households are turning to gambling out of desperation.
Some 44% of those surveyed said they would have bought groceries if the money had not been gambled away.
This gives further credence to claims by retailers that online gambling is reducing disposable income among vulnerable segments of the population.
Retailers such as Pick n Pay, Famous Brands and The Foschini Group (TFG) have highlighted the dama
