Gambling Awareness Dialogue at TUT successful bet on 17 September
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Tshwane University of Technology held its first gambling awareness dialogue this week. Read more about what they thought.
Main Photo and TUT choir image by Siyabonga Masinge
The Tshwane University of Technology held its first Gambling Awareness Dialogue at Soshanguve South campus on 17 September 2026, the event themed: ”Betting on yourself is the best bet you’ll ever make,” aimed to educate and raise awareness of online sports which is rapidly rising amongst young people.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the institution and the city of Tshwane as MMC for Roads and Transport Councilor Tlangi Mogale and The Head of Department of Student life and Governance Dr Rebone Molefe, both highlighted that online Sports betting is becoming a national crisis affecting the young and old.
Betting is attractive . . . many young people think it is quick money because of the amount of possible returns they see before placing bets.
Viewpoint at gambling awareness dialogue
In her Keynote address, Councillor Tlangi Mogale emphasized the role the city plays in ensuring that the city supports institutions of higher learning in such programmes.
“It is important that we as the City of Tshwane get involved in such events and also look at ways we can assist universities and our students in ensuring a secure future for all,” said Mogale.
Gambling addiction starting young
Many university students have resorted to taking a gamble in recent years. People observing the patterns noticed that the issue starts with the allowances they receive monthly from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), most students take their allowance into betting websites, whereby they place bets on soccer matches with smaller amounts of money expecting returns of large sums of money, so the gambling awareness dialogue was needed.
Don’t gamble your student fees
Sipho Kwangwana, the National Gambling Board Market Co-ordinator, launched a campaign together with NSFAS called: “Your Skill Is the Bag, Don’t Gamble With it!”, eight months ago. Students were encouraged to not take their allowances into betting and to rather invest in their futures.
Betting may be attractive
Student Representatives attending the gambling awareness dialogue reflected on the success of the event in getting the message to the students and outlined possible reasons why the youth may find betting attractive.
Research has found that Betway made approximately R39 billion rands from online betting in South Africa in 2024-2025 students contribute largely to those statistics.
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