Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)

National program promoting responsible gambling & player protection.

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About the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)

The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation is the national non-profit organisation dedicated to preventing and treating problem gambling in South Africa. It was launched in June 2000 and incorporated in 2004 as a comprehensive response to the challenges posed by problem gambling following the legalisation of the gambling industry in 1996.

The SARGF’s flagship is the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP), a world-recognised programme that integrates prevention, treatment and research into a single framework. All services provided by the Foundation are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) Does

The Foundation operates across three core areas: problem gambling prevention through education and public awareness campaigns, comprehensive treatment and counselling for individuals affected by problem gambling and their immediate family members, and research, monitoring and evaluation to inform evidence-based decision making.

The SARGF has treated more than 22,350 individuals since its inception, delivered training to over 7,500 gambling industry employees and reached more than 65,000 people through outreach programmes.

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) Treatment and Counselling

The SARGF provides both outpatient and inpatient treatment programmes staffed by qualified psychologists, psychiatrists and clinicians regulated by the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

The outpatient programme consists of face-to-face counselling, with patients typically undergoing 8 to 10 sessions depending on individual progress. For individuals with severe or chronic gambling disorders, the NRGP provides inpatient treatment within a hospital or clinic environment for up to 28 days. The Foundation also offers a relapse prevention programme to support long-term recovery.

Telephone counselling is available around the clock through the SARGF helpline, staffed by trained professionals who provide support, assessment and referral to the Foundation’s nationwide network of treatment providers.

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) Self-Exclusion

The SARGF supports the self-exclusion process as set out in South African gambling legislation. Self-exclusion allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from all gambling activities for a minimum period of six months. During this period, the NRGP provides free counselling to the excluded individual.

Requests for self-exclusion can be made through any provincial gambling board or directly through a gambling operator’s security department. Upliftment of a self-exclusion order is only considered after six months and once the individual has attended counselling sessions with an SARGF treatment professional. Non-compliance with a self-exclusion order can result in denied access to gambling premises and, in certain circumstances, a charge of trespassing.

How the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) is Funded

The Foundation is a public-private initiative between government gambling regulators and the South African gambling industry. It is funded by voluntary contributions from licensed gambling operators, including casinos, sports betting operators, bingo operators and LPM operators. The contribution is set at 0.1% of the industry’s Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR). The SARGF also receives public grants for defined special projects and provincial responsible gambling programmes.

Although independent, the Foundation reports regularly on its activities to the gambling industry and to provincial and national regulators. It aligns its governance approach to the principles of the Public Finance Management Act, and all expenditure is fully audited and reported in quarterly and annual reports.

Problem Gambling in South Africa

The SARGF recognises four categories of gambling behaviour based on national and international research. Non-gamblers make up approximately half the South African population. Recreational gamblers, for whom gambling is a harmless form of entertainment, constitute around 45.8%. Problem gamblers, whose behaviour creates negative consequences for themselves and those around them, represent approximately 2.7% of the population. Pathological or compulsive gamblers, who have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder of impulse control, make up around 1.5%.

Signs of Problem Gambling

Common signs of problem gambling include becoming withdrawn, persistent tiredness, frequently asking for money or loans, feelings of hopelessness or agitation, spending extended periods away from home, and participating in gambling activities at licensed or unlicensed venues. Family members, colleagues and friends are often the first to notice these changes.

How to Get Help from the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)

All SARGF services are free and confidential.

• Helpline: 0800 006 008 (toll free, 24/7)
• WhatsApp/SMS: HELP to 076 675 0710
• Email: helpline@responsiblegambling.org.za
• International: +27 21 674 5830
• Self-assessment: The SARGF provides an online self-assessment tool at responsiblegambling.org.za to help individuals determine whether their gambling behaviour may be a problem.

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) Values

The SARGF operates according to five core values.

• Commitment reflects passion, diligence and a drive to constantly innovate and improve.
• Excellence covers accountability, results-orientation and consideration of the impact on society and communities.
• Integrity means professionalism, ethics, confidentiality and honest, trustworthy conduct.
• Compassion puts the wellbeing of clients first through empathy, respect and quality service.
• Teamwork focuses on collaboration, transparency and sharing of information for the benefit of all stakeholders.

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) Key Details

• Full name: South African Responsible Gambling Foundation
• Flagship programme: National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP)
• Founded: June 2000, incorporated 2004
• Type: Non-profit company (NPC)
• Funded by: Licensed gambling operators at 0.1% of Gross Gambling Revenue
• Helpline: 0800 006 008