Pensioners and families devastated by rising gambling addiction in KZN

GAMBLING addiction is tearing families apart in KwaZulu-Natal, with pensioners, retirees, and even young people falling prey to the lure of slot machines and online betting platforms.

A disturbing trend has emerged with 27% of social grant recipients gambling away their monthly lifeline.

Pensioners and vulnerable citizens are risking their last rands in casinos, hoping for a miracle that rarely comes.

Last week, POST reporter Monishka Govender, found scenes of desperation unfolding at a popular Durban casino.

Pensioners, some clutching their last R20, sat for hours, hoping and praying that one lucky spin would double their money and help them through the financial hardships of the month.

For most pensioners, their social grant is their only lifeline for food, rent, and medication. Yet, the growing allure of gambling - as entertainment and a potential escape from poverty - has drawn an increasing number of grant recipients to local gambling outlets.

The National Gambling Board’s latest report revealed that 27% of the social grant recipients gambled with their grant money.

“I just want to win something small. Maybe R500, just to buy groceries. Last month, I lost R300, but maybe this month it will be my turn to win.

“I came with the last bit of my grant, hoping to double my winnings and have more money to get me through the month. I already lost my money but I borrowed R100 from my friend, hoping to win something and not go home empty handed,” said a 68-year-old woman who had been at the casino from 9am that day. 

For many pensioners, the R2180 monthly old-age grant vanishes almost as soon as it arrives. Some head straight from the ATM to the casino floor, hoping for a miracle that rarely comes. 

Many senior citizen clubs also visit casinos on their "outing" days. Here, one club member clutched her last R20 note. 

“I just want to win something small. If I can make R100, I can buy bread and electricity. This is my last R20. I hope I get something. I come from the poorer side so I come to the casino with a certain amount to try and double it, in order to have more money for the month.

"There are times when I use my entire pension to try and make up for what I lost. When I have no money, I start borrowing to pay my bills. Like today, I only have R20 left and I am praying for a miracle," said the 63-year-old woman. 

Many couples also gamble to "kill time" which could turn into an addiction.

This was the case for a husband and wife from Phoenix. 

“We started gambling for fun because we were alone at home after our children left and we had retired. We like to do something in our old age but then we found ourselves gambling every week.

"Our children send us money to run our household but we use that money to gamble as well. They have given us a talk about not going to the casino but we cannot help it. We find it fun and we do end up winning sometimes,” said the couple who are in their 70s.

A 60-year-old widow said she only gambled because she wanted the points to get free holidays.

“I think the casinos play on our greed. The more you gamble, the more points you receive and with those points you get a range of overnight stays. What we do not tell anyone is the amount of money we use to get those points. Sometimes, I think I should just pay for the holiday rather than gambling because it costs me more. I do not think I am as bad as other gamblers but I know that it is not healthy to gamble so much.

"We are getting older and we are lonely at home, so we tend to go to places where we feel less lonely. For me that is the casino because it is always loud, busy and bright. It makes me feel like I could win big – which never happens. But I just carry on and hope for better results each time,” she said. 

A 65-year-old man, who had been gambling from an early age, said he used to gamble his whole salary in the past and now gambled away his grant each month.

"I started gambling in my 20s when my friends introduced me to the casino. We believed that we could double our money and I did many times in my over 40 years of gambling but now that I am older, life is harder.

"I find myself using up all my grant money at the beginning of the month on gambling before I can even pay for my water and electricity. I always tell myself that I need to stop but then I find myself in the taxi and on my way to the casino.

“I always feel like I will win but I do not. Then I start borrowing from family members and neighbours, just to survive the rest of the month. Sometimes I even take the money I borrowed for food and use it for gambling. It is sad but it is too late for me to change," said the retired construction worker.

Reaction

Community leaders and social workers have raised the alarm over the growing crisis, calling for urgent intervention and public awareness campaigns.

Merlin Rangasami, chairperson of KwaZulu-Natal Gamblers Anonymous, said the situation had become dire, especially among pensioners who were using their government grants to gamble.

“Many families have phoned us to help their mothers and/or fathers who have become addicted to gambling. The day they get their grants, they go to the casino and blow all their money. They start off losing R100 and then use more to try and win it back, but they never do. They try to double their grant money but end up losing everything in the process and then have no money for the month.”

Rangasami said the consequences extend far beyond the casino floor.

“They begin to borrow money to pay their bills because until their next grant pay-out, they have no money. It is sad because there are even loan sharks who use these vulnerable pensioners. They give them loans knowing they would never be able to pay it back.”

He added that gambling addiction was not limited to those currently receiving grants.

“We also have issues with people who retired, and have lost their entire retirement fund through gambling. They cannot apply for government pension grants. When they can no longer sustain their lifestyle, they sell their homes to feed their habit and end up being left with nothing,” said Rangasami.

Community activist Brandon Pillay warned that the rise in online gambling had made the problem more widespread and harder to control.

“With the increase in online gambling you don't need to leave your home to go to a casino anymore. While it is regulated, we are seeing children and young people accessing these platforms. What is more concerning is how grant recipients end up losing the little that they have.”

Pillay also criticised the lack of education and awareness about gambling addiction.

“There is not much that is done to create awareness and provide education. Gambling is addictive but it also tells you how desperate those with a low income are,” he said.

The social impact of gambling addiction is also being felt in family structures, according to Aroona Chetty from Phoenix Child Welfare.

“Gambling is a big issue in our community. It impacts on the family unit and contributes to the social ills in our community.

“Our clients that receive foster care grants are monitored by us. Gambling increases stress and worry, and can lead to physical and mental health problems for gamblers' loved ones, including anxiety and depression.”

Chetty urged individuals struggling with gambling to come forward for support.

“We encourage people with gambling addictions to be honest about their gambling urges and seek help,” said Chetty.

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