The online betting group most likely to prioritise debt repayment with a windfall is also the group least likely to ask regulators or operators for spending controls, according to new research from Softswiss.
Fewer than four in 10 unemployed South Africans think online betting regulators and operators should do more to help people set spending limits, even though they are also the employment group most likely to say they would use a substantial windfall to pay off debt.
This finding comes from a survey of 1 000 South African adults commissioned by Softswiss, a strategic technology partner to iGaming operators worldwide. It follows Africa Safer Gambling Week, the continent’s first coordinated player-protection campaign, run by the African iGaming Alliance under the banner #PlaySafeAfrica.
Demand for spending-limit tools sits at 43,2% overall, but among unemployed respondents, it drops to 35,3% – eight points below the average. The same group is the most likely of any employment category to say they would use any substantial winnings or windfall to pay off debt, at 22,1%.
A similar pattern appears around underage protection. Current bettors are more likely than people who have never used an online betting service to want stronger protection against underage gambling – 65,7% versus 54,5%.
“Operators usually hear from the customers who are already engaged enough to ask for something,” says Mariia Halaida, head of Business Development in Africa at Softswiss. “This research suggests that people who may have the greatest need for spending controls are not necessarily the ones most likely to ask for them.
“Responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion are built into our platform to support regulatory requirements and safer gambling practices,” she adds. “The findings reinforce why we believe player protection requires a proactive approach, rather than relying solely on players themselves to request responsible gambling tools or safeguards.”