Cape Town Archbishop urges action against rising online gambling during Easter sermon
Archbishop Tabona Makgoba of the Anglican Church in Cape Town has called online gambling a serious evil largely overlooked by society during his Easter sermon.
Citing data from the South African National Treasury, the archbishop noted that in five years, annual revenue from betting in the country has increased by 390%, rising from approximately $630 million to $3.09 billion, with online betting accounting for over $2.62 billion annually.
Makgoba highlighted that Anglican bishops in South Africa have observed cases of pensioners losing government payments, students exhausting scholarships, and unemployed graduates taking loans to place bets. He urged for gambling to be regulated similarly to tobacco and alcohol and for a ban or strict restrictions on gambling advertising to be considered.
The archbishop's remarks emphasize the social risks associated with the rapid growth of the online gambling industry in South Africa and call for proactive governmental policies to mitigate its harmful effects.
This initiative may serve as a warning for other countries experiencing a boom in online betting to strengthen gambling oversight and protect vulnerable populations.
