BETTING BASICS
Before placing money on bets on a regular basis, you ought to determine how much capital you want to start with.
You should only budget the money you have at your disposal and that you can afford to spend. Do not use money that you need for rent, insurance, or other living expenses in your starting capital.
A clearer mind makes it easier for you to make smarter choices and be more successful in the long run.
A comprehensive knowledge of sport (in this case, football) and information about each individual match is vital if you want to manage risk. Therefore, you should get to know each team in detail. Assess form curve, missing players, match history and many other indicators that can help you analyse every match as fully as possible.
Betsplaced intuitively on your favourite team or high odds will probably lead to the occasional streak of luck – to manage risk, however, cannot be achieved this way. Instead, you should bet on matches in leagues you are familiar with, and on matches you can evaluate properly.
Place your bets only in categories you are familiar with, or where you have already been considerably successful. If you are just starting out, you should test different betting categories to get a good impression of your options.
Simple and low-risk bets for betting rookies are the classic 3-way bets, where you can place Home win, Draw or Away win and Over / Under 2.5 bets. Statistical analysis has shown that these two categories of bets are won quite frequently.
Even though accumulators have a certain appeal, we recommend avoiding them as much as possible. Each additional match on your betting slip makes it more likely that you will lose the bet. The best ways to manage risk means high probabilities, which in turn are achieved by making the right bets.
Live bets also carry a high probability of loss, so again, you should try to avoid putting money on them. For these kinds of bets, you must make multiple decisions in a matter of seconds. This usually doesn’t give you enough time for the comprehensive analysis needed for placing successful wager. As a result, most punters frequently make crucial mistakes that cause their bets to lose. Moreover, the odds of live bets are always under the offers before the match. For that reason, the pay-out percentage only rarely exceeds 90%.
This is the basic rule for every punter. Before placing money on a match, you should always check the bookmaker’s odds to find out if your bet has value - only then should you put money on it.
To stay in the game, you should avoid placing too much money on a single match. Nor should you try to make up for a loss by placing a risky wager afterwards. Instead, you should have a well-thought-out money management strategy in place. Many punters work with flat wagers – the amount to be placed follows an initial betting budget - or dynamic wagers – a current betting budget. Whatever kind of money management strategy you choose to follow, you should begin by wagering smaller amounts of no more than 3%-5% percent of your betting budget.
Apart from this, you should set targets for your bets. Determine in regular intervals what profit you want to earn in which period. Do not set your targets too high in order to keep a clear mind and make well-informed decisions.
If you have many different bets taking place at the same time, it can be hard to keep track of what’s going on. However, the latter is crucial if you want to keep an eye on how your bets are doing and where you stand to suffer losses. You should, therefore, keep a record of your bets. In this way, all profits and expenses are available at a glance, and you can quickly react to developments and refine your risk management strategy if necessary.
Big betting companies offer you up to 40,000 different bets to choose from daily. For obvious reasons, they are unable to accurately assess each match in detail. You can almost be certain that you will not be able to find especially valuable odds for matches played by well-known and popular teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Liverpool. So, if you know your way around in other leagues, it is worth shifting your focus on them instead. Are you an expert on the 3. Liga or the second Spanish division? Use your knowledge to your advantage. Check those matches for value and, in this way, manage yourself better.
References:
Ltd, W. (2021, January 6). 21 Most Popular Football Betting Markets [Updated List]⚡️. ThePuntersPage.com. https://www.thepunterspage.com/most-profitable-football-betting-markets/
01
South Africa’s gambling landscape is massive and deeply embedded, with over 60% of adults participating, from National Lottery tickets at the spaza to popular bookmakers, casinos, and informal township fafi networks.
The National Gambling Act (2004) and provincial boards mandate harm prevention, yet R47 billion is wagered annually, with low-income households relying heavily on SASSA grants.
According to the NRGP, nearly 900,000 adults (approximately 1.8%) experience severe gambling harm, with youth (18–24) showing the sharpest increase due to mobile betting apps.
Harm is multidimensional and often invisible. Financial losses escalate into debt, loan-shark dependency, and the disappearance of essential income.
Psychologically, preoccupation leads to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. One in five severe problem gamblers contemplate ending their life.
Socially, relationships fracture; arguments over R2,000 rugby bets through online betting platforms or late-night casino sessions trigger domestic tension and child neglect.
Physically, sleep deprivation from 3 a.m. online slots and alcohol-fueled sessions in gambling and entertainment venues compound the problem.
At community level, desperation drives theft, fraud, and pressure on clinics and police, especially in high-prevalence provinces like Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Key Indicators & Red Flags:
● Wallets draining fast, with grant or salary money disappearing
● Repeated “just one more” statements
● Borrowing money to gamble
● Hiding betting activity from family
Success Metrics:
● Staff must identify harm within 30 minutes of play
● At least 80% of at-risk customers referred to NRGP services
● Measurable drop in financial complaints, increase in self-exclusions
● National goal: 20% reduction in severe problem gambling over five years
Immediate Actions:
● Ask: “Are you chasing losses?” / “Hiding bets from family?” / “Borrowing to gamble?”
● One “yes” = act immediately
● Hand NRGP wallet card and dial 0800 006 008 together, free, 24/7, 11 languages
Online Resources:
● NRGP Self-Assessment Tool
● Gamblers Anonymous SA
● SA Responsible Gambling Guidelines
02
Vulnerability isn’t weakness, it is exposure.
SA’s gambling market thrives on accessibility and marketing pressure. Seventy percent of adults own smartphones, sportsbetting operators dominate social media, and township games like fafi are normalized cultural practices.
Youth aged 18 to 35 are the most exposed. Online registrations rose 300 percent since 2020, and industry turnover reached R1.5 trillion in 2024/25, mostly online.
High unemployment at 45 percent and poverty affecting 60 percent of households create fertile ground for predatory marketing campaigns, with “free bets” targeting grant recipients.
Cultural factors, trauma, mental health challenges, and substance use increase risk.
Youth often see betting as a “hustle.” One in three place a bet weekly, spending more than R500 on sports.
Shift workers and night owls peak in online play between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Low-income households may spend more than ten percent of a social grant on a single ticket.
Men often hide losses to maintain social status, while women may gamble quietly on bingo or informal games.
Key Red Flags:
● Youth using phones late at night
● Grant day becoming bet day
● Extended online play between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
● Viewing betting as quick cash
● Heavy smartphone use combined with unemployment
Success Metrics:
● Flag 70 percent of high-risk customers in first interaction
● Forty percent increase in proactive self-exclusion requests
● Twenty five percent reduction in youth problem gambling nationally through school and workplace programs
Immediate Actions:
● Ask: “How often do you bet?” / “Has anyone expressed concern about your betting?”
● Two “yes” = act immediately
● Offer self-exclusion and dial 0800 006 008 together
Online Resources:
● NRGP Self-Exclusion Portal
● Mindful Gambling Tools
● SA Gambling Research and Reports
03
Over 100,000 frontline staff operate in South African gambling venues, from Montecasino croupiers to Hollywoodbets cashiers and online agents.
Legal frameworks such as the National Gambling Act 2004 and provincial boards require every employee to detect risk and intervene, yet only 38 percent of staff feel confident doing so according to the NRGP 2023 survey.
High-pressure interactions such as a nervous customer at an ATM, a youth hiding phone bets, or a grant recipient pleading for one more spin require structured skills, not silence.
Effective Interaction Techniques:
● Build cultural rapport: greet in isiZulu, Afrikaans, or a local language
● Active listening and emotion reflection: “The R2,000 loss is hitting hard”
● Observe behaviour: repeated ATM visits, trembling hands, prolonged slot use
● Offer legal interventions: cool off periods or self-exclusion
● De-escalate: calm tone, open body language, never argue
Success Metrics:
● Minimum one responsible interaction per shift
● Ninety percent of at-risk customers accept a break or referral
● Sixty percent reduction in security call-outs
● NRGP target: one hundred percent of staff certified within two years
Immediate Action:
● Master the 60 Second Script:
“That’s heavy. Want to pause all betting for 6 months? I’ll do the form now, no questions.”
● Walk to a quiet space, dial 0800 006 008 together, and log the interaction
Online Resources:
● NRGP Staff Training
● Interactive Customer Scenarios
● Responsible Gambling Toolkit
04
Since 2000, the NRGP has operated South Africa’s only integrated, government-backed prevention and treatment system, funded by the industry.
Services reach every province via 0800 006 008, 22 counselling centres, partnerships with operators, SANCA, and workplace EAPs.
Despite more than 40,000 calls annually, only 12 percent of problem gamblers access formal help, highlighting staff awareness as a critical bridge.
Support Services Toolkit:
● Toll-free helpline: 24/7, 11 languages, anonymous, trained counsellors
● Face-to-face clinics in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, plus rural outreach
● Self-exclusion: binding 6 months to 5 years across all licensed platforms
● Online limits: deposit limits, time-outs, reality checks activated by staff
● Peer support: Gamblers Anonymous groups in major cities
● Workplace EAP integration
Success Metrics:
● Visible helpline numbers and wallet cards in all venues
● One referral per staff per week, with a 50 percent increase in contacts
● Self-exclusion uptake increasing by 35 percent nationally
● Eighty percent of referred customers attending at least one counselling session
● Thirty percent reduction in treatment waiting lists targeted
Immediate Actions:
● Keep ten NRGP wallet cards on hand
● Give one to each at-risk player
● Walk to a quiet spot and dial 0800 006 008 together
● One card. One call. One recovery started
Online Resources:
● NRGP Helpline and Self-Exclusion
● Gamblers Anonymous SA
● Online Responsible Gambling Tools
