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South Africa is facing an alarming rise in online gambling that is destroying lives and draining billions of rands from families and the economy.
This warning was sounded by The Witness on Tuesday.
One addict, in particular, relayed their own experience.
“It didn’t happen overnight; it was a gradual descent into hell. I was oblivious to the direction I was taking. It started with small bets and wins, then grew with the amounts I spent and the losses I incurred.
“We lie, we cheat, we steal, we connive, and eventually we hit rock bottom,” he told Gamblers Anonymous, a non-profit that supports victims of gambling addiction and their families.
Convenience appears to be among the key avenues to partaking in online gambling activities with popular sites like Springbok promoting free spins and no deposit bonuses to those in South Africa as well as the ability to be paid in South African rands.
Responsible gambling expert Farah Jassawalla said the removal of barriers such as travelling to a casino has led to longer gambling sessions and higher spending.
“Online casinos take digital payments, so one may lose track of spending. This is particularly risky with credit cards, where gamblers may wager money they don’t have,” said Jassawalla.
She said studies suggest online gambling can be more addictive than traditional casino gambling because of its accessibility.
In addition to online casinos, web poker sites are also readily available in the nation.
While South African law prohibits companies from offering online poker, players are not explicitly banned from accessing and playing on offshore sites like ACR Poker. ACR Poker itself does not list South Africa among its restricted countries and is available to users worldwide. However, you should be aware of the associated risks and local regulations
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
