GQEBERHA- A new awareness campaign aimed at curbing underage gambling among school-children will be rolled out in Motherwell and New Brighton in Gqeberha next week as concerns mount over the growing number of learners exposed to gambling at a young age.
The National Responsible Gambling Programme’s (NRGP) Taking Risks Wisely School Edition campaign will run from 11 to 15 May and is expected to reach learners through educational sessions focused on the dangers of illegal gambling and addiction.
The initiative comes amid increasing concern that economic hardship, peer pressure and easy access to online gambling platforms are drawing teenagers into risky behaviour.
According to the SA Responsible Gambling Foundation, some children are using gambling as a coping mechanism for stress and social pressures, while others see it as a way to help support struggling households.
Furthmore the research conducted by the organisation identified several factors contributing to early gambling exposure, including the influence of friends, the need for acceptance, aggressive gambling advertising and personality traits linked to sensation-seeking behaviour.
In addition SA Responsible Gambling Foundation Executive Director Sibongile Simelane-Quntana said underage gambling had become a growing social concern requiring urgent intervention.
“Peer pressure, access to illegal underage gambling, exposure to gambling culture, and the normalisation of risky behaviour all play a role in drawing young people into gambling activities,” she said.
The campaign is being implemented in partnership with the Hollywood Foundation and the Eastern Cape Gambling Board.
Simelane-Quntana emphasized that the programme was designed not only to raise awareness but also to equip learners with practical coping strategies and alternative forms of recreation.Learners will also be educated about the legal restrictions surrounding gambling for minors, the risks linked to addiction and the support services available to affected individuals and families.
In addition The National Responsible Gambling Programme also offers free psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic counselling services for minors affected by gambling-related harm, with parental or guardian consent. Adults struggling with gambling addiction can also access support.
“This programme focuses on offering free support to young people who may be directly impacted by illegal underage gambling or the harmful effects of problem gambling within their homes,” Simelane-Quntana said.
She expressed optimism that the initiative would help reduce the number of learners engaging in underage gambling in Gqeberha communities.Residents needing assistance can contact the National Responsible Gambling Programme’s toll-free counselling line on 0800 006 008 or via WhatsApp on 076 675 071.
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