When payday isn’t enough: Why more South Africans are turning to gambling to survive

For many South Africans, the end of the month arrives long before payday does.

Bills pile up, grocery prices climb, and salaries often stretch only so far. In that pressure cooker, some workers are turning to an unlikely and risky coping strategy: gambling.

New insights from Old Mutual reveal that about 40% of working South Africans now gamble frequently, with many doing so not for entertainment but to plug financial gaps.

Instead of placing a bet for fun, some workers are hoping for a lucky break that might help them cover rent, settle debt, or get through the month.

Gambling is becoming a financial survival tactic

The research paints a picture of a workforce under growing financial strain.

According to Statistics South Africa, 55% of what is classified as recreational spending in the country now goes toward gambling.

Meanwhile, figures from the National Gambling Board show the industry continues to grow rapidly. Its 2023/24 annual report recorded gross gambling revenue of R59.3 billion, marking a 25.7% increase compared with the previous year.

For Keri-Lee Edmond, head of business intelligence at Old Mutual Corporate, those numbers reflect something deeper than a booming entertainment industry.

“What we’re seeing is a society under strain,” Edmond explains. “Short-term relief is winning over long-term financial security because many people simply don’t have the reserves to absorb financial shocks.”

In other words, the bet is no longer about the thrill it’s about survival.

The rising cost of living behind the trend

South Africans have faced several years of mounting financial pressure.

Electricity price hikes, rising fuel costs, expensive food baskets and persistent unemployment have squeezed household budgets. Even those with stable jobs often find their salaries struggling to keep pace with inflation.

In that environment, gambling can start to feel like a quick solution.

People may buy lottery tickets, place online sports bets, or try their luck on digital gambling platforms in the hope that a single win could change their financial situation.

But statistically, the odds rarely work in the player’s favour.

It’s not just a low-income problem

One surprising insight from the research is that gambling cuts across income levels and age groups.

While the trend appears more pronounced among younger and lower-income workers, it is not limited to them.

Edmond says financial pressure linked to debt and rising living costs is driving behaviour across the workforce.

For some people, gambling has even become part of everyday money management directing scarce income toward risky bets in the hope of meeting monthly obligations.

The problem, she says, is that this approach almost always worsens financial stress rather than solving it.

When financial stress reaches the workplace

Employers are beginning to feel the ripple effects too.

Workers dealing with financial strain often experience reduced concentration, anxiety, and lower productivity.

That’s because money worries rarely stay at home they follow people into the office, the shop floor, or wherever they work.

Edmond says employers increasingly need to recognise that financial stress is not just a personal problem but a workplace issue.

Providing employees with financial guidance, flexible benefits, and support systems can help them navigate both immediate financial pressures and long-term planning.

Public reaction: concern about “normalising” gambling

The topic has sparked strong reactions online.

Some South Africans say gambling has become so normalised that it barely raises concern anymore from sports betting adverts to lottery promotions.

Others worry that the growing popularity of online betting apps is making it easier than ever to gamble impulsively.

One social media user recently commented: “When salaries don’t keep up with life, people start chasing miracles.”

Another added that gambling can quickly become a dangerous cycle, especially when people try to recover losses with bigger bets.

A warning sign for the economy

Experts say the growing reliance on gambling is less about entertainment and more about economic stress signals.

When workers begin using high-risk activities as a way to survive financially, it often reflects deeper structural pressures in the economy.

For South Africa, where inequality and unemployment remain stubborn challenges, the trend highlights the fragile financial position of many households.

A risky gamble for financial stability

For some South Africans, placing a bet might feel like the only option left when money runs out.

But financial experts warn that gambling rarely provides a sustainable path out of debt.

As Edmond points out, the solution lies not in chasing luck but in building financial resilience through better planning, access to guidance, and stronger support from employers.

Because when survival depends on chance, the odds are rarely in anyone’s favour.