Responsible Gambling in South Africa: Safety and Advice

Playing responsibly is a vital part of keeping gambling fun and entertaining. We at Match.Center strives to bring the most transparent view on the betting and casino industry to help you with this. Safety and convenience for punters are our main priority and we run multiple initiatives to support these.

With a dedicated scoring system and player-based community, we look forward to a safe environment for modern-day gamblers. Keep reading to learn more about responsible gaming in South Africa, and which tools are available on local betting sites to help you maintain control of your play.

Why We Support Responsible Play

Addiction does not only harm the person who falls victim to it, it connects to all of the people surrounding the gambler as well. Friends, families, and workmates can all be affected in some capacity. However, you can downgrade the risk of losing control thanks to modern-day tools and universal support. Here’s some of the impact the addiction can have on one’s life:

Financial Difficulties. Losing control of your spending habits can lead to major financial problems, including debt and credit can’t afford.
Problems at Work. Constant stress will directly impact your performance at work and can cause you to get fired.
Widespread Concern. Based on research, 4.7% of South Africans are at risk of developing an addiction and 0.4% are already problem gamblers.
Family Issues. Persistent tension due to lost stakes and mental struggles can spoil your family in feuds and arguments leading to distancing, depression and divorces.

How Can We Gamble Responsibly?

South African bookmakers receive licences through the National Gambling Board and Provincial Gambling Authorities. These ensure that the operator presents a safe environment for the gamblers. Legal bookmakers provide more transparency on the risks of addictions and offer all of the tools possible to lend a hand to players in struggle.

The authorities regularly update requirements and re-evaluate all platforms. Licences can be revoked if operators don’t meet government standards. Modern gambling laws are strict regarding player risks and addiction.

Rules of responsible play:

Limits on the amount of money you wager and time you spend on the sites.
All of the staked funds should be considered gone. If you manage to win – great, if not, it should not be a surprise. Odds are always against you even if it does not look like it.
Never use credit money or loaned funds to gamble. This is a one-way ticket to an addiction and financial disaster.
Ensure you are fit and mentally prepared before making a bet. Your condition can affect decision-making and lead to unforced errors.
Balance your leisure time and life. Family and friends, work and education should not become less important than gambling.
Enjoy your time. Betting and casinos are meant to bring fun and not stress. Do not consider this a way to earn money.

How to Spot Addiction

Being addicted does not help identify where you are. Moreover, when completely digested by this state you are likely to turn into denial of such possibility at all. Typically, there are ways to recognise the problem at the very beginning and take steps backwards from the addiction. Here’s how to spot a potential problematic behaviour:

Evaluate Your Losses. Regularly check your bet history. Count the money you spend in a set period. Make sure it doesn’t affect your everyday life. It could be a red flag if you find yourself putting money in when you should not be.
Take a Break. The importance of this can be seen in all aspects of life, but especially in gambling. When spending countless hours on the betting site, you are constantly exposed to the markets and stop rational thinking.
Avoid Emotional Betting. Stress and other mental struggles can affect your decision-making. Moreover, avoid wagering when you are under the influence of alcohol.
Bonus Hunting. Lucrative rewards for registering and making your first top-up are always inviting. However, constantly rushing for incentives is also a sign of a potentially developing addiction. You should take advantage of wherever you can, but try to control yourself and play fair.

Where to Get Help

Help is a vital part of the healing process and avoiding addiction. Gaming habits can cause havoc in everyday life. If you realise that betting overtakes rationality, there are helping centres ready to commit themselves to lending a hand to those in struggle. Here’s where to knock:

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation. Also known as SARGF, it provides confidential treatment and counselling for problem gamblers, offering a 24/7 helpline at 0800 006 008. They also have a self-check quiz to help individuals assess their risk-taking behaviours.
The South African Federation for Mental Health. Though this is not directly aimed towards helping fight addiction, they offer much-needed talk when your mental conditions are on the decline, which is a subsequence to gambling dependency.

Responsible Playing Tools

Betting sites provide tools to ensure you have everything you need to wager safely. Here’s what they have to offer:

Limit-Setting Tools. Limits are a premier way to disallow yourself from excessive spending. You can also set the maximum time you can spend on the sites.
Payment Blocking. Contact your bank and ask for them to block all of the transactions that will be directed towards operators. You can remove this restriction when you feel ready to bet again.
Reality Check Notifications. Pay attention to the notifications saying that you’ve been playing for too long. Take breaks, clear your mind and then proceed to gamble again.
Self-Exclusion Programmes. You can opt-in these to disallow yourself from all gambling activity. This is especially true when you realise that you are addicted to it.

Restriction of Gambling for Minors

Based on the National Act of 2004, the legal age to gamble in South Africa is 18 as in most countries. This is due to the weak mental system of teenagers who can not withstand the addiction and the adrenaline that comes with betting or spinning slots. When exposed to too many of these activities, his or her mind will only see the fun side and see it as an easy way to get dopamine.

As a parent, you can help your kid get less open to such instances. Use parental control settings on your devices. Set up a block list with all the gambling websites and download ad-blocking software to remove malicious banners of e-gaming websites.