Financial pressure is driving more than half of stokvel savers to gamble, according to the Rogerwilco 2026 Township Customer Experience Report.
The finding comes as National Gambling Board (NGB) figures show that gambling turnover in South Africa reached approximately R1.8 trillion in the 2025/26 financial year, with gross gambling revenue totalling R84.5 billion.
The Rogerwilco report found that more than half of stokvel savers had gambled at least once in the previous year because of financial distress. Stokvels rely on members making regular contributions towards shared savings goals, but financial pressure can make it harder for households to keep saving while meeting everyday expenses.
Betting accounted for R62.2bn of gross gambling…