Breaking Down the Numbers – Beyond SA’s R1.5 Trillion Gambling Boom

Loading player...
GUEST: Jaco van Jaarsveldt – Head of Commercial Strategy and Innovation at Experian

South Africans spent a staggering R1.5 trillion on gambling last year an amount equal to 65% of the country’s total outstanding debt. But behind that headline lies a deeper question: who is gambling, and why?

In this conversation, Gugulethu Mfuphi unpacks the data with Experian’s Head of Commercial Strategy and Innovation, Jaco van Jaarsveldt, to find out whether the surge in betting is entertainment or a symptom of financial distress. Drawing from Experian’s partnership with Vault22, the discussion explores what real-time transactional insights reveal about consumer behaviour, credit health, and financial inclusion.

From Millennials driving the online betting wave, to young professionals spending nearly half their income on gambling, the numbers tell a powerful story about money, mindset and the pressures facing South African households.
30 Oct 2025 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Affordable Diabetes Care Arrives in SA with Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk South Africa GM Sara Norcross explains the launch of the country’s only authorised copy of semaglutide, manufactured using the identical API, process and device as the originator — but at a more affordable price. We unpack what an authorised copy is, why SAHPRA registration matters, how the Acino…
23 Jul 1PM 14 min

Why Women’s Financial Empowerment Is an Economic Multiplier

Women’s financial empowerment has the potential to drive economic growth, strengthen households and create lasting generational wealth. Kaya Biz speaks to Alexandra Nortier, Joint Head of Wealth Management at Investec Wealth & Investment International, about why Investec is backing the JSE SheInvests 2026 initiative, the barriers keeping women out of…
23 Jul 1PM 9 min

SARB holds rates steady in July MPC – What It Means for You

Momentum economist Tshiamo Masike unpacks the SARB’s decision to pause, the upside inflation surprise, and the global factors driving the MPC’s decision. We explore how rising oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and weakening consumer confidence shaped the call — and what households, businesses and markets should expect next. A sharp, data‑driven…
23 Jul 1PM 14 min

PIC Board Exodus: Khaya Sithole on SA’s Biggest Asset Manager in Crisis

Six PIC directors have resigned, Treasury has begun steps to remove others, and whistleblower allegations of interference are mounting. Independent analyst Khaya Sithole breaks down the governance crisis unfolding at the Public Investment Corporation, what’s driving the board exodus, and what this means for the R2.5 trillion in assets the…
22 Jul 1PM 14 min

SA July MPC preview: Rates Outlook amid Hot Inflation

With inflation rising to 5.0%, fuel prices surging, and administered costs climbing, the SARB’s Monetary Policy Committee faces a tough call. Sanlam Investments economist Patrick Buthelezi unpacks today’s CPI print, the risks driving inflation, and what to expect from tomorrow’s MPC meeting. Essential listening for anyone watching interest rates and…
22 Jul 1PM 15 min