A new study has found that although most South African online gamblers believe they are in control, many are reportedly sacrificing essentials and even borrowing money to keep gambling—raising concerns about the social and financial impact of the country’s rapidly expanding online gambling industry.
The findings come from the South African Gambling Impact Study by Yazi, a South Africa-based, AI-powered consumer research platform. Conducted in May 2026, the study surveyed 1,028 people in South Africa who had gambled online within the previous 30 days and analyzed 2,569 voice notes collected through Yazi’s WhatsApp-based research platform.
The study found that nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) described themselves as being in control of their gambling behaviour. However, the results point to patterns often associated with financial distress and problem gambling. For example, 57% of participants said they had cut back on basic needs such as groceries, airtime, transport, rent, or debt repayments to fund gambling.
In addition, 29% reported borrowing money to continue gambling, while 59% admitted to chasing losses by placing another bet on the same day after losing. Some findings were particularly concerning. Twenty-six percent of respondents said they spent more than 10% of their monthly income on gambling, and 5% said they were unable to stop even when they tried.
The study also highlighted limited awareness of responsible gambling tools. More than a quarter of respondents (28%) said they were unaware that gambling operators offer limit-setting features intended to help users manage spending. Yazi reported that several participants shared personal stories showing how gambling-related financial hardship affects real lives.
These accounts included people losing money meant for essential expenses, such as a respondent who lost a R200 weekly transport budget gambling on online slot games, and another who admitted using their South African Social Security Agency grant money to gamble. The research also challenges assumptions about who gambles online. Women made up 61% of respondents, suggesting online gambling may be more common among female consumers than previously assumed.
Yazi CEO Tim Treagus said one of the study’s biggest takeaways was the mismatch between gamblers’ belief that they are in control and the behaviour described in the data. He said the value of the research lies in giving people space to share the truth, while using technology to understand human behaviour and measure human impact more effectively.
The study is released as regulators remain concerned about the growth of South Africa’s gambling industry and rising levels of problem gambling and addiction. Recent figures indicate the industry generated a record R75 billion in gross gambling revenue in 2024/25. The betting sector alone has also grown sharply, rising from R8.8 billion in 2019/20 to R23.7 billion by 2022/23. Trade Intelligence research further suggests that 39% of online gamblers are betting more than they were a year ago, while the National Responsible Gambling Programme recorded a 55% increase in people seeking help.
Marketing executive and author Khaya Dlanga said the key concern is not gambling itself, but the fact that many people appear to be gambling while under financial strain. He warned that when individuals start sacrificing essentials, borrowing money, or believing the next bet will resolve cash-flow problems, the issue shifts from entertainment to vulnerability.
Yazi said the study’s broader significance goes beyond the gambling industry, pointing to the value of conversational research in a mobile-first society. The company noted that traditional surveys can struggle to capture nuanced responses, especially on sensitive topics. By combining WhatsApp conversations, AI-assisted interviewing, and large-scale qualitative analysis, it said organisations can generate richer insights while still working at speed and scale.
Yazi hopes the findings will inform discussions among regulators, policymakers, financial institutions, researchers, and civil society groups about online gambling realities in South Africa and the need for stronger awareness and consumer protection measures.
