Don't gamble it away: NSFAS, National Gambling Board's student awareness campaign

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the National Gambling Board (NGB) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at curbing the misuse of student allowances for gambling activities.

The collaboration seeks to raise awareness at tertiary institutions, protect students from gambling-related harm, and safeguard public funds allocated for higher education. 

According to the organisations, the partnership was prompted by growing concerns regarding the increasing exposure of young people to gambling, specifically through illegal online platforms. Research cited in the statement indicates that a combination of financial pressure, aggressive digital advertising, and ease of online access has led to increased gambling participation among youth.

It has also been reported that some NSFAS students are using their allowances to gamble on various platforms.

NSFAS acting Chief Executive Officer, Waseem Carrim, emphasised that financial aid is strictly intended to support a student’s academic journey and essential living needs.

"When these funds are diverted to gambling, it can undermine academic success and long-term financial well-being," Carrim stated. He noted that the partnership would focus on prevention and empowering students to make informed choices.

The NGB highlighted that particular attention will be given to the normalisation of gambling through social media and mobile applications, which the board claims increasingly affects the student population.

Lungile Dukwana, Acting CEO of the NGB, stated that the partnership prioritises the protection of young people through "harm reduction approaches" to prevent the development of harmful gambling behaviours.

The campaign has been launched under the tagline: "Your skill is the bag; don’t gamble with it."

Key areas of the collaboration include:

• Implementing nationwide outreach and on-campus education programs.
• Delivering targeted campaigns on financial literacy and the risks of illegal gambling.
• Engaging students through workshops and dialogues focused on informed decision-making.
• Sharing information to strengthen legislation, monitoring, and preventative interventions.

The two entities are expected to formalise the collaboration in the coming weeks through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will establish a governance framework for joint interventions across universities and TVET colleges.

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