Safer play
Gambling should be entertainment, never income
If play stops being fun, stop playing. Free and confidential counselling is available to anyone in South Africa through the National Responsible Gambling Programme, 24 hours a day, in all official languages.
Tools that work
Set your limits before you deposit
These controls exist at every casino we recommend. Using them from day one is the single best predictor of staying in control.
Deposit limits
Set a daily, weekly or monthly cap in your account settings before your first deposit. Every casino we list supports this, and increases take 24 hours to take effect.
Loss and session limits
Cap what you can lose in a session, or how long a session can run. These are the most effective single tools we know of for keeping play recreational.
Reality checks
A pop-up every 30 or 60 minutes showing time played and net position. Easy to ignore, but it breaks the momentum that costs people money.
Self-exclusion
A permanent or fixed-term block on your account. Request it from support in writing; a reputable operator will action it within 24 hours and stop all marketing.
Warning signs
When to ask for help
- Chasing losses with bigger deposits than you planned
- Playing to escape stress, boredom or low mood
- Hiding how much time or money you spend from family
- Borrowing money, or using funds set aside for bills
- Feeling irritable or restless when you cannot play
- Promising to stop and then returning within days
Where to get support
Free counselling and treatment for South African players and their families. Call 0800 006 008 at any hour.
Support for the anxiety and depression that often travel with problem gambling. Call 0800 567 567.
Peer support meetings in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and online.
International online chat rooms and forums, available free to South African residents.
You must be 18 or older to gamble in South Africa. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose, and never treat it as a way to make money.