The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) is rolling out the Free State leg of its Taking Risks Wisely schools programme by visiting schools in Bloemfontein until Friday (23/5). 

The programme aims to educate learners about the dangers of underage and illegal gambling, and it highlights how children, often introduced through informal games like board game betting, can develop gambling habits with long-term negative effects. “The main causes of underage gambling include peer pressure, where they just want to fit in,” said SARGF counselling specialist Bongiwe Ngobese. 

“Other causes can be the easy access to illegal gambling, the normalisation of gambling at home, and the lack of awareness of gambling risks. Most of the things that parents or teachers can look out for are that, most of the time, there’ll be a decrease in academic performance. 

“Children may not be interested in the activities that they engaged in before.”

Often, children will withdraw from social activities or start isolating themselves, some children will start bunking school, or not engage in class. One of the most important tell-tale signs is if their children start stealing money at home and at school from other learners, she said.

Gamification of platforms

Daily Maverick reports that it is easy for young people to register online by providing parental ID numbers, and whether this is checked is a concern.

Industry estimates suggest gambling spend in South Africa has surpassed R1.1 trillion, said the CEO of RCS South Africa’s provider of retail credit, Regan Adams.

“The ‘gamification’ of platforms, ease of access via mobile devices, and aggressive marketing tactics have made gambling particularly common among younger consumers.”

Forms of gambling activities among adolescents. Photo: researchgate.net

“The programme chooses schools that we feel are affected by gambling. Sometimes we visit schools where educators actually reach out to us to say that there is a gambling problem in the area, and they are worried about children,” said Ngobese.

They also go to schools where you might not typically find that kids are engaging in illegal forms of gambling, but we still want to educate them about the risks, she said.

Counselling is provided to young people through the minor intervention programme for those who are impacted by gambling, and for younger children, parental consent is required.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame mvh