South Africans are betting over R1 trillion each year: Why gambling has become so appealing in tough economic times.

Loading player...
GUEST – John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual.

South Africans place over R1 trillion in bets annually, with R700 billion spent on sports betting alone. For many, particularly those with limited financial resources, the appeal of a big win can be incredibly tempting. However, the reality is often more complex. Instead of earning easy money, those who indulge in excessive gambling frequently face financial strain, says John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual.
5 Jun 2025 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

SA's role in annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos

At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week, South Africa is presenting a pipeline of investment-ready infrastructure projects aimed at attracting global capital and long-term partnerships.Is it still useful for South Africa to be there, or would the effort be better spent fixing problems back home? Chief Economist…
19 Jan 1PM 19 min

Careers Corner: Job Guide for 2026

Pnet has released its latest Job Market Trends Report, including the Pnet Job Guide for 2026, revealing where joand Customer success at Pnet. Paul Byrne, Head of Insights, Customers Success at Pnet.
19 Jan 1PM 19 min

EXPLAINER - Why some sports stars are worth more than companies.

An 18-year-old footballer valued at more than R6 billion has reignited a global debate: how do we really put a price on modern sports stars? Following a new long-term contract at Barcelona, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has been named the world’s most valuable footballer — outranking established global icons and…
15 Jan 3PM 22 min