Responsible Gambling: Limits, Self-Exclusion and Where to Get Help

Responsible gambling means betting only with money you can afford to lose, for a limited time, and stopping when it no longer feels like entertainment. If you are worried about your own betting or someone else's, the National Responsible Gambling Programme offers free, confidential counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 006 008, or by SMS or WhatsApp on 076 675 0710.

Who can gamble: the 18+ rule

No persons under the age of 18 years are permitted to gamble in South Africa. The National Gambling Act bars minors from gambling and from pretending to be 18, and licensed bookmakers must take reasonable steps to confirm a customer's age. That is one reason FICA checks ask for an ID document before you can withdraw. The same age limit applies to National Lottery tickets.

Signs that betting is becoming a problem

• You bet more, or more often, to get the same feeling.
• You chase losses by placing another bet to win back what is gone.
• You borrow money, use bill money or sell things to keep betting.
• You hide your betting from family or lie about how much you spend.
• You feel restless or irritable when you try to cut back.
• Betting gets in the way of work, study or relationships.

One or two of these is a reason to pause and set limits. Several together is a reason to call the helpline.

Tools licensed bookmakers offer

Provincially licensed bookmakers describe player protection tools on their responsible gambling pages. Common ones include:

• Deposit limits for a day, week or month;
• Wagering limits that cap how much you can stake;
• Reality checks that remind you how long you have been playing;
• Time-outs or cooling-off periods that lock the account for a set time;
• Self-exclusion, which closes the account for a longer period or permanently.

Set limits when you open an account, not after a bad day. Our rating method gives player protection a fifth of every bookmaker's score, and each bookmaker review notes which tools the operator lists.

Self-exclusion in South Africa

You can self-exclude in two ways. The first is through the bookmaker itself, using the self-exclusion option in your account or by contacting support. The second is national: the National Gambling Act provides for a National Register of Excluded Persons kept by the National Gambling Board. You apply on Form NGB 1/1, and once accepted you are excluded from designated gambling areas nationally. Removal requires a formal application on Form NGB 1/2. A draft update to these rules was published for comment in February 2026; your provincial gambling board can tell you which version currently applies. Self-excluded players are not eligible for bonuses or promotions.

Where to get help

The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation runs the National Responsible Gambling Programme, which provides free counselling and treatment referrals. Call 0800 006 008 at any hour, or send HELP by WhatsApp to 076 675 0710. The programme's slogan sums it up: Winners know when to stop.