The National Gambling Board of South Africa has announced the formation of the National Task Team (NTT) for a new responsible gambling campaign.
The campaign, titled ‘’Risk to Responsibility’’ represents a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on educating students and youth on financial wellness, responsible behaviour and prevention.
Through education, community outreach, media advocacy and youth-focused programmes, the aim is to equip youth with tools to make informed choices
The NTT consists of several institutions and stakeholders, including the African Lotteries and Gaming Association, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, the National Gaming Board, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the South African Union of Students and others.
The initiative will introduce the Future Leaders Responsible Gambling Forum, a national student platform designed to educate nominated student representatives from South African universities to become advocates for financial wellness and broader youth safeguarding.
The Forum will also feature advocacy initiatives, educational campaigns, peer-to-peer awareness programmes and community outreach initiatives.
South Africa’s gambling sector, one of Africa’s largest regulated markets, faces growing regulatory scrutiny as rapid market growth drives calls for stronger oversight and harm prevention.
Among the most significant proposals is the National Treasury’s plan to introduce a national 20% tax on online gambling GGR, in addition to existing provincial taxes.
Treasury says the measure is intended to address the rapid expansion of online gambling and its associated social impacts, while the industry has warned that increasing the tax burden on licensed operators could further strengthen the country’s already sizeable illegal market.
South African Bookmakers Association (SABA) estimates that illegal operators account for more than 62% of gambling activity nationwide
