More than half of South Africa's stokvel savers have turned to gambling over the past year, driven not by recklessness but by sheer financial distress, according to the Rogerwilco 2026 Township Customer Experience Report, first reported by IOL on 20 October 2026.
The revelation lands hard in a country where stokvels remain one of the few financial institutions Black households actually trust and control. These savings clubs, built across generations in townships and villages, are now being squeezed by an economy that offers millions of our people no honest way out. National Gambling Board figures show gambling turnover reached roughly R1.8 trillion in the 2025/26 financial year, with gross gambling revenue standing at R84.5 billion.
Where the money is going
Betting dominates the industry's take. Of the R84.5 billion in gross gambling revenue, betting accounted for R62.2 billion, with online betting generating R55.6 billion across the six provinces covered by the Board's data. Retail betting brought in R6.4 billion by comparison.
The scale matters. That is money pulled largely out of working class and poor communities, communities that were shut out of wealth creation under colonialism and Apartheid and still have not been compensated for it. The gambling industry, much of it foreign owned, extracts from Black townships what the economy refuses to invest in them.
What the National Gambling Board found
Acting NGB chief executive Lungile Dukwana said the Board was concerned about people who view gambling as a way to supplement their income or address financial difficulties.
“Gambling should never be regarded as a source of income or a solution to financial hardship.”
The Board's 2023/24 Socio-Economic Impact of Gambling Study laid out the human cost in plain numbers. It found that 59% of gamblers surveyed said they would have more money available for savings if they did not gamble. Another 48% said they would have more money for household necessities, while 37% said they could use the money to settle debts or accounts.
The study classified 31% of those surveyed as problem gamblers and 29% as being at moderate risk. Among problem gamblers, 67% earned less than R9,000 a month, and 19% reported having no household income at all. These are the unemployed, the underpaid and the abandoned, people for whom the state and the formal economy have offered almost nothing.
Motivation follows the money. The study found 68% of gamblers surveyed were chasing the prospect of a large win, 56% cited the need for additional money, and 14% pointed directly to job losses and financial need.
Chasing losses deepens the hole
Dukwana warned against gambling with money needed for everyday expenses.
“Money intended for food, transport, education, household expenses, debt repayment or savings should not be used for gambling.”
Financial planner Bertie Nel, head of financial planning and advice at Momentum, said the Rogerwilco findings pointed to the pressure facing stokvel members when household finances come under strain.
“Stokvel members are among the most disciplined savers in the country. They contribute regularly and plan together. If they reach for a bet when pressure builds, the issue is not character but rather illustrates how little room many households have when something goes wrong.”
Nel warned that chasing losses could deepen financial problems, particularly when people borrow money to continue betting or spend funds set aside for emergencies.
His point deserves repeating. Stokvels are collective, disciplined, community owned savings. When even these savers reach for a betting app, the problem is structural. It is an economy where unemployment sits at devastating levels, where the wealth of this country remains concentrated in the same hands that held it before 1994, and where a young Black worker with a phone can place a bet in seconds but cannot open a bank account without hurdles.
Winnings meant for bread, not luxury
The Board's research found that 55% of gamblers surveyed intended to use winnings to buy basic household necessities. Another 49% said they would put the money towards savings and 40% towards settling debts. Nobody in these numbers is dreaming of holidays. They are dreaming of groceries, school fees and a debt collector who stops calling.
The Board noted its research showed a relationship between gambling and household financial pressures, though it did not establish that gambling caused every respondent's difficulties. People who gamble to meet obligations or recover losses risk exposing themselves to further harm.
What help is available
The NGB said it is working with provincial licensing authorities and the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation to provide public education, counselling and treatment for people affected by gambling harm. Voluntary self-exclusion is also available to those struggling to control their gambling.
The Board is also expanding education initiatives at universities and TVET colleges to discourage students from gambling with money meant for their education and essential living expenses, Dukwana said.
People experiencing gambling problems can contact the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation's 24-hour helpline on 0800 006 008 or via WhatsApp on 076 675 0710.
Why are stokvel members gambling?
According to the Rogerwilco 2026 Township Customer Experience Report, financial pressure is the driving force. More than half of stokvel savers gambled at least once in the previous year because of financial distress, as households struggle to keep saving while covering everyday expenses.
Is gambling a realistic way out of hardship?
No. The National Gambling Board states plainly that gambling should never be treated as a way out of financial hardship, and its own study found that most gamblers would have more money for savings and household necessities if they stopped.
Who is most affected?
The NGB's study found that 67% of problem gamblers earn less than R9,000 a month and 19% reported no household income, confirming that gambling harm falls hardest on the poorest South Africans.