According to the Statistics South Africa, gambling has become South Africa's dominant leisure expenditure, accounting for over half (55%) of household spending on recreation, sport, and culture. In the past 12 months, reports of people seeking rehabilitation has shot up by 55%. There is also human and social cost of gambling: broken families, financial ruin, mental health issues, and increased crime.

Despite R75 billion in gross gambling revenue, operators paid only R6 billion in direct taxes last year. Only a small fraction (R74 million) went to rehabilitation and counselling for gambling addicts, leading to accusations that the industry's social costs outweigh its fiscal benefits. Political parties such as BOSA and Mzansi Rise have called for more accountability on betting operators including higher taxation and its categorization as sin-tax. The National Planning Commission are calling for Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee on Communication and Digital Technologies regulates advertising for gambling. In this hour, we unpack what has been done to raise alarms, how to access services for at-risk gambling behavior and what role communities can play in talking about this challenge. We are joined by…

Guest (Telephone): Sibongile Simelane-Quntana - CEO of Responsible Gambling Foundation

Guest (Telephone): *Adele Mthimkhulu - recovering gambling addict

Guest: Makashule Gana - Member of Parliament for Rise Mzansi