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Cards, poker, dices are seen on the picture illustrated.
Members of Parliament (MPs) have agreed to the urgent need to reform the gambling industry. This was a parliamentary mini-debate under the theme, “The gambling crisis in South Africa and the need for measures to better regulate the gambling industry to protect South Africans from gambling addiction”.
Most members of parliament called for urgent steps such as a change in legislation regulating advertising, as well as increased taxing of the gambling industry.
This due to poor and vulnerable communities being ravaged by unregulated gambling at casinos and online.
The debate was sponsored by Rise Mzansi.
We can no longer allow this silent pandemic to erode our communities. That is why today, we are proposing Seven Urgent Reforms to bring accountability and balance to this industry
Sign our petition here: https://t.co/LiSnp9f2hF#RISEInParliament pic.twitter.com/0jUzUosOHt
— RISE Mzansi (@Rise_Mzansi) October 31, 2025
MPs say gambling is another silent pandemic in the country. Not only does it rob vulnerable people of their limited funds, with an estimated R1,5 trillion spent last year on gambling in some form as the country also faces increased addiction to gambling.
Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) member, Visvin Reddy and the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Sinawo Tambo described this as a very serious matter.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP, Thokozani Langa, says gambling is on the rise while young people are increasingly lured into high-risk behaviour by aggressive marketing, especially unregulated online platforms.
The Patriotic Alliance’s Ernest Hendricks and ActionSA MP, Lerato Ngobeni, were some of the MPs who wanted advertisements to be more strictly regulated.
Today at a glance: Hon. Visvin Reddy indicated that the MK Party are proposing a Bill to tax the gambling industry and fund education and other entities in dire need with the proceeds generated. Hon. Reddy indicated that online gambling addiction does nothing for our society but… pic.twitter.com/xMt4dDJUHk
— MK Party in Parliament (@MKParliament) October 31, 2025
The African National Congress (ANC) says while it shares the concerns, it has not been sitting idle.
Makashule Gana, from Rise Mzansi, proposed reforms to be implemented, urgently.
Video | Calls mount for urgent gambling reforms: Zalene Merrington reports
