SARGF Condemns Gambling Promotions at Pretoria School
The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) condemned a lapse in child safeguarding after video footage surfaced on social media showing World Sports Betting (WSB) representatives conducting a commercial promotion inside a preschool classroom at Cornwall Hill College in Pretoria.
The activation took place after a school staff member won a radio competition. WSB representatives then entered the campus and operated a promotional “prize-wheel spin” in front of young children. During the event, they offered the teacher an additional financial reward if the teacher could prove they had an active World Sports Betting account.
The event has drawn widespread criticism over potential breaches of Section 15 of the National Gambling Act, which prohibits gambling promotions targeting minors. In response, the college’s executive management and preschool principal apologised, saying the promotional arrangement had not been disclosed to school leadership in advance.
Regulators, child-safety advocates, public figures, and community members are questioning how the activation had been approved and called for stronger oversight, strict penalties, and a ban on gambling promotions in educational settings.
The SARGF, which works to reduce gambling-related harm and protect players in South Africa, has since engaged with WSB, school management, provincial licensing authorities, the National Gambling Board (NGB), and the Department of Basic Education (DBE). It views the incident not as an isolated mistake but as evidence of broader systemic failures in protecting minors.
Data from the SARGF’s Taking Risks Wisely: School Edition prevention programme highlights a concerning nationwide trend of increased gambling exposure and participation among school-aged learners. Field reports indicate that underage children often access online betting platforms using their parents’ or guardians’ mobile devices and digital accounts. Educators may also be unaware that minors are legally prohibited from participating in any form of gambling.
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During National Responsible Gambling Month this November, they are emphasizing that exposing children to gambling can carry significant risks to their developing brains and may normalise high-risk behaviours at a vulnerable age.
To address this risk, parents and guardians can take preventive steps at home. The SARGF advises them to use biometric or PIN locks on smartphones, laptops, and tablets and to ensure that betting apps and digital wallets are not left logged in where children can access them. Guardians should also check banking and mobile-money apps regularly for unauthorised transactions, which may indicate underage gambling activity.
Adults should avoid “co-playing”, for example, asking children to choose lottery numbers, scratch tickets, or press digital spin buttons, as this can make gambling seem like a harmless household activity.
Schools and school governing bodies should also establish clear safeguards. The SARGF urges school leaders to prohibit betting, gambling, and lottery operators from holding marketing activations, sponsorships, or prize draws on school grounds. Teachers should be trained to recognise possible signs of underage gambling, such as intense interest in sports odds, sudden behavioural changes, or unexplained loss of lunch money or allowances.
To help build schools’ capacity, the SARGF offers an educator programme accredited by the South African Council for Educators (SACE) for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.
Long-term protection depends on incorporating gambling awareness into the school curriculum and maintaining effective regulatory oversight. The SARGF provides classroom-based Life Orientation modules that teach learners about risk-taking and gambling-related harm.
Both the SACE-accredited teacher training and the Life Orientation modules are available to schools free of charge. Continued advocacy and regulatory enforcement are essential to keeping commercial gambling interests out of learning spaces.
Schools, parents, and individuals seeking support can access free, confidential assistance through the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) toll-free hotline at 0800 006 008 or via WhatsApp at 076 675 0710.
