A survey of 1,000 South African adults suggests that those facing greater financial pressures are not necessarily the people most likely to seek spending-control tools for online gambling.
A new survey commissioned by SOFTSWISS among 1,000 South African adults has highlighted a gap between personal financial circumstances and demand for player-protection tools in online gambling.
The findings come shortly after Africa Safer Gambling Week, held from 7 to 11 September under the #PlaySafeAfrica banner. The campaign was organised by the African iGaming Alliance as the continent’s first coordinated player-protection initiative.
One of the survey’s key findings concerns unemployed respondents. This group recorded the highest proportion of people who said they would use a financial windfall to pay off debt, at 22.1%. However, only 35.3% of unemployed respondents expressed demand for spending-limit tools.
That figure is nearly eight percentage points below the overall average of 43.2%, according to the findings released by SOFTSWISS.
The survey also examined attitudes towards underage gambling protection. Current bettors were more likely than people who have never used an online betting service to express demand for stronger protection against underage gambling, with figures of 65.7% and 54.5%, respectively.
Mariia Halaida, Head of Business Development in Africa at SOFTSWISS, said the findings highlight a challenge for operators, as people who may have a greater need for certain protection tools are not necessarily the ones most likely to request them.
“This survey suggests that people who may have the greatest need for spending controls are not necessarily the ones most likely to ask for them.”
Halaida added that responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion are incorporated into the SOFTSWISS platform to support regulatory requirements and safer gambling practices.
The company argues that these findings reinforce the importance of a proactive approach to player protection, rather than relying solely on players to request responsible gambling tools or safeguards.
SOFTSWISS said the full survey findings, including the methodology, margin of error and demographic breakdowns, will be detailed in its full report, which is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
As part of its broader focus on the African market, SOFTSWISS will also host a LinkedIn Live panel on 23 September at 14:00 CET. Titled “Not a Cheap Bet: The Economics of Launch in the African iGaming Market,” the session will explore the financial landscape of entering African iGaming markets, using South African operations as a real-world benchmark.
The discussion will feature experts from the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator, Jabula Bets, Legends Gaming and Management Solutions and SOFTSWISS, focusing on the economic considerations surrounding iGaming operations across the continent.
