The North West Gambling Board (NWGB), in collaboration with the Consumer Affairs Unit of the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) and the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF), has engaged young people at the Baphiring Agricultural Hub in Ga-Phiri, Mabaalstad-Moses Kotane Local Municipality, on the risks associated with gambling.

The outreach formed part of efforts to promote responsible gambling and equip young people with the knowledge needed to make informed financial decisions and safeguard their income and future.

The Baphiring Agricultural Hub provides agricultural and agro-management services, skills development and training, catering and food services, as well as construction and maintenance opportunities. The initiative also aims to support skills development and socio-economic empowerment within the community.

The NWGB said its engagement complemented these objectives by raising awareness among young people about the potential financial and social consequences of gambling and encouraging responsible financial choices.

Participants and organizers also called for continued community support through youth-focused workshops, training for parents and community leaders to help identify gambling-related problems, and alternative programmes that can keep young people positively and constructively engaged. The NWGB encouraged members of the community to seek assistance where gambling becomes problematic.