Free help, any hour of the day
18+Free and confidential, 24 hours a day
- 0800 006 008NRGP helpline, toll-free
- 076 675 0710NRGP on WhatsApp
- 0800 567 567SADAG crisis line, 24 hours
“Winners know when to stop”
The NRGP line is run by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation. A call leads to a short assessment and, where it helps, a course of free outpatient counselling; the WhatsApp number is there to ask for a referral to a counsellor. Family members who are worried about someone else's gambling can use the same service. SARGF treatment and counselling
If gambling has left you feeling hopeless or thinking about harming yourself, call the SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0800 567 567 now. It is toll-free and answered day and night.
Brakes you can ask Springbok to apply
Springbok's responsible gaming page describes two tools, both arranged by contacting its support team by live chat or at help@springbokcasino.co.za:
- Deposit limit
- A daily or monthly cap on how much you can depositresponsible gaming page9 October
- Self-exclusion
- A break from your account for a period you choose, from one month upwardsresponsible gaming page9 October
- Where to ask
- Live chat on the site and in the lobby, or email supportsupport page9 October
Ask for a limit on a calm day, not in the middle of a losing session, and ask support to confirm in writing when it takes effect. A limit set at one casino does not follow you to another, so if you play elsewhere, set one there too.
Signs that play is no longer play
- You deposit again to win back what you lost a few minutes ago.
- Rent, school fees or grocery money has gone into a casino balance, even once.
- You hide sessions from a partner or family, or feel irritable when you cannot play.
- Bets are getting bigger to feel the same buzz as before.
- You borrow money, or sell something, to keep playing.
One of these on its own is a warning. Two or more is a good reason to call the NRGP line this week, not next month.
A rand budget that holds up
- Decide a monthly entertainment amount after bills and savings, and treat it as already spent.
- Use one deposit method so the total shows on one statement, and never deposit with borrowed money.
- Set a time limit with an alarm on your phone; long sessions blur how much has gone.
- Remember that a bonus with wagering stretches the session, not the budget: it asks for more bets before anything can be withdrawn.
- Stop when you are upset, tired or have been drinking, and take a full day off after any loss that stings.
Winners know when to stop. The full list of help services is on responsiblegambling.org.za.