New figures from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) show that the country’s betting industry has grown by over 1,400% since 2018, reaching R152.6 billion (about $8.5 billion) from R10.1 billion (about $560 million) in five years (2023).
This makes gambling one of the fastest-growing industries in South Africa’s personal services industry, far ahead of other sectors like education services or event production.
Stats SA data also shows how much gambling has become part of everyday spending. When it looked at how households spend money on fun activities like sports, gym, games, books, and tickets, more than half of that money (54.5%) went to gambling.
This includes lottery tickets, casinos, sports betting, bingo, and Limited Payout Machines. In comparison, gym memberships make up just 5.9% of the same spending group, and tickets to sports events make up only 1%.
These numbers highlight how gambling has become a normal part of household spending for many South Africans.
The growth is also closely linked to the rise of betting apps and online platforms, which have made it easier for people to place bets from their phones at any time.
Stats SA notes that while the industry’s growth shows strong demand, the money comes from people placing bets and losing.
This raises questions about the financial pressure gambling may be placing on households, especially as the cost of living rises.
The industry makes almost as much money as healthcare
When all types of gambling are combined (including lottery tickets, casinos, bingo and Limited Payout Machines), the industry brought in R191.4 billion (about $10.6 billion) in 2023.
This is almost as much as the country’s healthcare services, which made R199.7 billion (about $11.1 billion) in the same year.
Analysts say this shows how quickly it has become part of people’s daily lives, especially through online and mobile platforms.
Calls for action as betting apps grow
The National Gambling Board has said it plans to act against illegal online gambling. But so far, there is little detail on how it will deal with the sharp growth of legal gambling and the risks it may pose to households.
Experts say that easy access to online betting and the large amount of advertising are helping to drive the boom.
Sports betting promotions are now common on TV, radio and social media, encouraging more people to bet.
Analysts warn that if the trend continues, gambling could keep taking a large share of household budgets in the years ahead.
Some observers believe that stronger regulation and better consumer protection measures are needed to reduce risks for players.
For now, online betting remains one of the fastest-growing industries in South Africa and shows no signs of slowing down.
