South African Archbishop Criticizes Online Gambling

In South Africa, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba called online gambling a harm during his Easter sermon, saying it does not receive enough attention.

Archbishop’s Statement on Gambling

Thabo Makgoba spoke out against online gambling during his Easter sermon in Cape Town.

Main Position

The archbishop stated that online betting has become a serious social issue that does not receive enough attention.

Growth of Betting Market in South Africa

According to a discussion paper from the National Treasury, cited by the archbishop, gambling revenue in the country has increased sharply in recent years.

Growth Statistics

Annual revenue has increased by about 390% over five years, from approximately $630 million to around $3.09 billion.

More than $2.62 billion of this total now comes from online betting.

Social Impact of Gambling

The archbishop noted that the issue affects different groups of society, including pensioners and students.

Examples from Practice

According to Makgoba, there are cases where pensioners lose state benefits, students spend their scholarships, and unemployed graduates borrow money for betting.

Call for Regulation

Thabo Makgoba called for stronger control over the gambling industry.

Proposed Measures

He suggested regulating gambling in a similar way to tobacco and alcohol, and considering restrictions or a ban on gambling advertising.