“Gambling can create a powerful but temporary sense of hope and control for people under financial stress, offering the illusion that one big win could solve mounting money problems. In the moment, it acts as an emotional escape from anxiety about debt, daytoday survival, and the strain these pressures place on relationships,” explains Dr Marion Borcherds, gender and employee wellness expert and Head of Well-being & Benefits at AfroCentric. “But because this relief is short-lived and doesn’t address the root causes, it often deepens both the financial and emotional challenges it briefly seems to ease,” she adds.

Dr Borcherds says one of the major challenges surrounding gambling is the illusion of a solution within reach which can make gambling seem like a rescue plan rather than entertainment, despite its temporary nature. This can often be compounded by media reporting on major wins, while very seldom covering the societal impacts of the losses.

Speaking to the psychology of not knowing when to stop, Dr Borcherds explains that people often feel compelled to keep gambling to try to recover their losses.

“Loss-chasing psychology is the vicious cycle where, after a big loss, a person keeps gambling in a desperate attempt to win back what they’ve lost. Instead of walking away, they become fixated on recovering the money, which clouds judgment, fuels risky bets, and often leads to even deeper financial and emotional harm,” she says, adding that it’s important to distinguish between gambling as entertainment and a disorder.

Although not often spoken about, financial abuse is a very real problem in South Africa today. Dr Borcherds explains that this is when one partner uses money to control the other. It can include taking a partner’s salary, blocking their access to bank accounts, hiding information about debts or assets, forcing them to sign financial agreements, or using shared property and savings to fund things such as gambling without consent.

She says unlike ordinary money disagreements, financial abuse cuts one person out of decisions, keeps them in the dark, and creates fear and dependence that can make it very hard to leave an unhealthy or unsafe relationship.

Dr Borcherds is clear: “This is not a willpower problem. If you see yourself in these patterns, treat it as a health and safety issue, not a personal failing. Get help early, use formal support channels, and don’t try to manage it completely on your own,” she says. “Prioritise safety if gambling is tied to abuse. Where gambling and financial control or any kind of violence overlap, safety must come first,” she says, adding that any steps should be done in a way that doesn’t expose the person to any kind of aggression or harm.

From a financial perspective, Siwiak agrees that people need not feel they are tackling the challenge alone.

“Speak to a licensed financial adviser who can look at your whole picture – income, debts, policies and goals – and help you find small but realistic ways to redirect money from gambling into savings, especially an emergency fund and a solid retirement plan. A key part of that conversation is understanding what truly counts as discretionary spend. Get help doing the maths on your life, know exactly what you can truly afford to lose, and make sure more of your spare money is helping build your future instead of vanishing on the next draw or bet.”

It can help to empower yourself with some practical tips and tools to better manage your money, ensuring that even small monthly changes can compound over time. These educational articles have some valuable insight.

How to save today to protect your financial future
10 small habits that could help you save over time
How to build an emergency fund

Remember, recognising that gambling has stopped feeling like a choice takes real courage, and you don’t have to carry it in silence - support is free, confidential and closer than it feels.

Choosing to speak to someone early, a partner, a friend, a counsellor or a licensed financial adviser, is where financial freedom starts to come back.

This is for general information and education only and does not constitute financial advice. For personal recommendations, speak to a licensed financial adviser.