SASSA and NSFAS recipients could face restrictions on opening online gambling accounts under a new responsible gambling initiative from Sun International, but the company faces a major challenge: it cannot independently verify whether customers receive social grants or student funding.
The South African gaming and hospitality group launched its Responsible Gambling Charter on 13 October 2026, outlining measures aimed at protecting vulnerable players.
One of the commitments focuses specifically on people receiving South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants and funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Sun International says it will not activate an online gambling account when a customer declares that their source of income is a SASSA social grant or NSFAS funding.
However, this does not mean that South Africa has introduced a nationwide SASSA or NSFAS gambling ban.
Instead, the restriction is part of Sun International’s own responsible gambling measures.
Why SASSA and NSFAS recipients are being targeted
The move comes amid growing concern about vulnerable South Africans using money intended for essential needs or education to gamble.
The National Gambling Board has warned about concerns involving both NSFAS students and SASSA grant recipients.
Acting National Gambling Board CEO Lungile Dukwana said some NSFAS students were using their allowances to gamble, while some SASSA beneficiaries were also spending money intended to support their basic needs on betting.
The concern is particularly significant for people who depend on government financial assistance.
NSFAS funding is intended to help eligible students access higher education and meet costs associated with their studies.
SASSA grants, meanwhile, provide financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries, including older people, people with disabilities and families caring for children.
For households already under financial pressure, losing part of this money through gambling could make it more difficult to pay for food, accommodation, transport and other necessities.
What Sun International wants to do
Sun International’s Responsible Gambling Charter includes a specific commitment concerning SASSA and NSFAS recipients.
When customers register for an online account, they can identify their source of income.
According to the charter, SASSA social grant recipient and NSFAS funding recipient are included as options.
If a customer selects either option, Sun International says the online account will not be activated.
This means the proposed restriction is focused on the company’s own online platform rather than all gambling websites in South Africa.
It is therefore important for beneficiaries not to interpret the announcement as a new government rule preventing every SASSA or NSFAS recipient from gambling.
The major problem with the proposed ban
The biggest challenge is verification.
Sun International does not have access to SASSA or NSFAS records, meaning it cannot simply check a customer’s details against government databases before allowing or rejecting an account.
The company therefore has to rely on customers accurately declaring their source of income.
Sun International CEO Ulrik Bengtsson acknowledged that self-declaration is not a perfect solution. The company has indicated that it is open to discussions with government and regulators about what additional measures could be introduced while respecting privacy and personal information.
This creates an obvious enforcement problem.
A customer who receives a SASSA grant or NSFAS funding could potentially fail to disclose that information when completing an online registration form.
Without access to the relevant government records, Sun International would not necessarily be able to identify that customer through the registration process.
Is there already a national SASSA gambling ban?
No.
The current development should not be described as a nationwide ban on SASSA or NSFAS beneficiaries using gambling platforms.
What Sun International has announced is a commitment not to activate accounts for customers who declare that they receive SASSA social grants or NSFAS funding.
The wider gambling industry and regulators are, however, discussing stronger measures to protect vulnerable people.
The National Gambling Board has raised concerns about the use of social grants and student allowances for betting and has called for stronger safeguards.
NSFAS and gambling concerns
NSFAS beneficiaries have also come under increased attention because student allowances are intended to support students while they pursue their studies.
The National Gambling Board and NSFAS announced a partnership earlier in 2026 aimed at educating students about gambling risks, particularly online and illegal gambling.
The regulator has warned that easy access to betting through mobile phones and digital platforms presents an additional challenge.
According to the National Gambling Board, modern technology means people can place bets almost anywhere and at any time.
This has increased the pressure on gambling operators, regulators and other stakeholders to introduce stronger responsible gambling measures.
SASSA beneficiaries also face gambling risks
The concern is not limited to students.
Social grant recipients have also been identified as a vulnerable group.
The National Gambling Board has warned that money intended to help people meet their basic needs could be lost through gambling.
For someone who depends heavily on a monthly grant, gambling losses can have serious consequences for the entire household.
The issue has therefore become part of a wider discussion about responsible gambling and how vulnerable consumers can be protected.
Sun International introduces more responsible gambling measures
The SASSA and NSFAS restriction is only one part of Sun International’s new Responsible Gambling Charter.
The company has also committed to measures involving advertising, player education, self-exclusion and identifying potentially harmful gambling behaviour.
Among its commitments is a decision not to place certain time-dependent gambling advertising between 6am and 8am or between 12pm and 6pm.
The company also plans to dedicate part of its gaming advertising content to responsible gambling messages.
Sun International says it will also introduce data analytics and, where appropriate, AI-supported monitoring from 2027 to help identify behaviour that could indicate that a player is at risk.
Human staff will review automated alerts.
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What happens if someone uses another gambling website?
Another challenge is the growing use of unlicensed and offshore gambling platforms.
Sun International has pointed out that its responsible gambling measures can only protect customers who use its own licensed platforms and venues.
The company argues that stronger regulation should encourage players to remain within licensed gambling channels, where safeguards are available.
It has also warned that measures that make licensed operators less competitive could push some consumers towards offshore platforms where similar protections may not exist.
This means that preventing vulnerable people from gambling may require measures that go beyond individual operators.
Will SASSA and NSFAS recipients be banned from gambling?
For now, there is no blanket national ban announced for all SASSA and NSFAS recipients.
Sun International has announced that it intends to prevent customers who declare SASSA or NSFAS funding as their source of income from activating online accounts on its platform.
The major difficulty is verifying those declarations because the company does not have direct access to SASSA or NSFAS records.
The issue could therefore become part of a broader discussion between government, regulators, funding bodies and the gambling industry about how vulnerable people can be protected without compromising personal information and privacy.
For now, SASSA beneficiaries and NSFAS-funded students should understand the distinction between Sun International’s proposed platform restriction and a nationwide government gambling ban.
The wider debate is likely to continue as South Africa considers new gambling legislation and further measures to address the risks associated with online betting.
Disclaimer: This article is for news and informational purposes. Dailyrise is not a government department, SASSA, NSFAS or a gambling operator. Readers should verify important information through the relevant official organisations and regulatory authorities.
Source: The Citizen
