In 2025/26, the South African Responsible Gaming Foundation (SARGF) identified over 1300 people seeking help due to gambling problems who are at high risk of developing suicidal thoughts. Debt obligations and financial difficulties have exacerbated their mental ill-health.
SARGF identified 1345 individuals with a high-risk profile for suicidal thoughts. Among those assessed, 83% had unmanageable debts, 36 required psychiatric assessment, and 20 were hospitalized for 21 days for treatment. Furthermore, 33% reported a family history of gambling involvement.
It is emphasized that these figures do not mean that all 1345 individuals attempted suicide or that gambling was the sole cause of their distress; however, they demonstrate a complex link between gambling-related harm and mental health status.
Sibongile Simelane-Kuntana, CEO of SARGF, explained that the stress experienced by those seeking help often stems from multiple interconnected factors. According to her, there is a complex combination of gambling harm, uncontrolled debt, financial problems, substance abuse, relationship strain, and underlying mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Simelane-Kuntana added that the emotional burden associated with secrecy, shame, hopelessness, social isolation, and deteriorating relationships can worsen financial losses and increase vulnerability to suicidal thoughts. For some people, gambling becomes a way to earn extra income or a means to avoid immediate financial pressure.
Individuals may use savings, loans, overdrafts, and pension funds to cover losses, initiating a cycle where growing debt deepens anxiety, depression, and feelings of despair. Simelane-Kuntana noted that debt is often both a consequence and a cause of distress due to excessive gambling, as people can get caught in the trap of chasing lost money.
The foundation's treatment program includes confidential counseling, psychosocial support, financial literacy training, and debt counseling. Individuals at high risk are referred for clinical assessment to determine the need for outpatient counseling, urgent psychiatric evaluation, or inpatient treatment.
Simelane-Kuntana warned that access to specialized mental health services remains a challenge due to a shortage of specialists and dedicated beds, which could potentially delay care. She stressed the importance of reducing stigma regarding both problem gambling and mental illness, as people are more likely to seek support when they know help is available without judgment.
Pressure also affects students, who may face a mismatch between allowances and living expenses while managing household financial expectations. The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) warned that financial pressure can push students towards online betting in hopes of supplementing income, but losses can worsen their financial difficulties and jeopardize their academic progress.
ISFAP CEO, Werner Abraham, explained that students struggling to cover living costs while supporting their families can be particularly vulnerable. He stated that financial stress remains one of the most significant factors disrupting concentration and well-being among university students. Abraham noted that when students face increasing family expectations or a gap between allowances and expenses, online gambling can seem like a quick fix, but the resulting losses lead to significant financial and emotional strain that disrupts the student's academic journey.
He also explained that their support model combines financial literacy and budgeting assistance with counseling, mentorship, and early intervention, asserting that student mental health must be considered alongside financial support.
At the industry level, Sun International launched its Responsible Gambling Charter this month, setting commitments to player education and protection, ethical marketing, and staff responsibility and training. The company stated that its promise is simple: to provide clear guidelines for responsible gaming and tools to help maintain control.
This charter is overseen by the company's board Social and Ethics Committee, reviewed annually, and featured in the Sustainability Report. Sun International reported that it is working towards obtaining independent responsible gambling certification.
The government is also considering further regulation. During the Medium-Term Budget Statement on Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that consultations are ongoing regarding a proposed national online gambling tax. Godongwana noted that the received proposals generally recognized the need to address the issue of rising online gambling and its associated harm. He specified that the final version will be announced in the February 2027 Budget, and consultations will cover the tax structure, its relation to existing regulations, and implications for provinces and the regulated market.
