More charts
People in South Africa wagered more than R1-trillion last year. Two-thirds of it was spent on betting, mostly online, on things like sports and horse racing. The money spent on betting has been going up since around 2021. The turnover from betting now far surpasses casinos, which used to be the most popular way to gamble.
Betting on sports and other contingencies is driving this surge.
“Gambling has transitioned from a pastime enjoyed by small pockets of society to being a commonplace activity,” notes the National Gambling Authority.
In an April 2025 survey conducted by InfoQuest – a follow-up to its March 2024 study on approximately 300 gamblers in South Africa – nearly half (48%) said they are gambling more often than a year ago.
According to Claire Heckrath, managing director of InfoQuest, “This surge in frequency points to growing engagement, possibly fuelled by the rise of easily accessible online platforms, aggressive marketing, and shifting social norms.”