South Africans Spend More on Gambling Than Any Other Entertainment, Study Reveals

Johannesburg, 2025 – Gambling has overtaken all other forms of entertainment in South Africa, with households now spending more money on betting activities than on sports, gym memberships, or event tickets, according to a new study by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).

Exponential Growth in the Gambling Industry

South Africa’s online gambling and betting sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years, becoming the largest money generator in the personal services industry.

• Gambling revenues soared 1,400% over five years, reaching R152.6 billion ($8.5 billion) in 2023, up from R10.1 billion ($560 million) in 2018.
• The sector now generates revenues comparable to South Africa’s healthcare industry, which brought in R199.7 billion ($11.1 billion) in the same year.

This surge places gambling far ahead of other personal services sectors such as education services or event production.

Gambling Now a Major Household Expense

Stats SA data highlights that more than half of household spending on entertainment (54.5%) goes to gambling. This includes:

• Lottery tickets
• Casinos
• Sports betting
• Bingo
• Limited Payout Machines (LPMs)

By comparison:

• Gym memberships account for just 5.9% of entertainment spending
• Tickets to sports events make up only 1%

The figures illustrate how betting has become a normalized part of everyday household spending, with easy access to online platforms and mobile betting apps fueling the boom.

Online Betting Drives the Surge

Experts say the growth of online betting apps has made gambling more accessible than ever. Users can place bets anytime, anywhere, and aggressive advertising on TV, radio, and social media further encourages participation.

While this growth shows strong demand, it raises concerns about the financial pressure gambling may place on households, particularly amid rising living costs.

Gambling Industry Rivals Healthcare in Revenue

When all forms of gambling are combined—including casinos, lottery tickets, bingo, and LPMs—the sector earned R191.4 billion ($10.6 billion) in 2023, nearly matching the country’s healthcare revenue of R199.7 billion ($11.1 billion).

Analysts note that this demonstrates how quickly gambling has become integrated into daily life, especially via mobile and online platforms.

Calls for Regulation and Consumer Protection

The National Gambling Board has indicated plans to tackle illegal online gambling, but questions remain about how authorities will address the rapid growth of legal betting and its potential risks to households.

Experts recommend:

• Stronger regulation of online and mobile gambling platforms
• Better consumer protection measures to reduce financial risks for players
• Increased public awareness campaigns to educate households about responsible gambling

The Road Ahead

For now, online betting remains one of South Africa’s fastest-growing industries, showing no signs of slowing. Analysts warn that without intervention, gambling could continue to take a significant share of household entertainment budgets, making it crucial to balance growth with responsible gaming measures.