Gambling and betting risks for athletes

Sport and betting are closely linked, and athletes are often surrounded by betting culture - sponsorships, teammates who bet, and long hours of travel and downtime. This closeness brings real risks worth being aware of.

What it is

Problem gambling is when betting stops being an occasional, controlled activity and starts affecting your finances, relationships, performance or mental health. Athletes face particular risk factors: access to disposable income, boredom during travel or injury layoffs, a competitive mindset that can transfer to betting, and, in some sports, access to insider information that creates additional legal and integrity risks around betting on your own sport. Gambling can also become a way of coping with stress, boredom or the pressure of performance, which makes it harder to recognise as a problem.

Signs to notice

• Betting more money or more often than you intended
• Chasing losses by betting again to try win back money
• Lying to teammates, coaches or family about how much you bet or lose
• Betting on your own sport, league or matches you're connected to
• Feeling anxious, irritable or preoccupied when you're not able to bet
• Financial strain, borrowing money, or missed obligations linked to betting

What helps

• Know your league or federation's rules on betting - in most sports, betting on your own sport is against integrity rules and can end a career
• Set firm limits before you bet, such as a fixed amount you can afford to lose, and stick to them
• Avoid betting as a way to fill time on the road or manage boredom or stress - find other outlets instead
• Talk openly with a trusted person if betting is starting to feel hard to control
• Use self-exclusion tools offered by betting platforms if needed
• Speak to a counsellor or the National Responsible Gambling Programme for confidential, specialist support

When to reach out for help

If betting is affecting your finances, relationships, focus or mood, or if you feel unable to stop despite wanting to, reach out for support now. If financial pressure from gambling brings on feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of harming yourself, treat this as urgent and reach out immediately.

Getting help in South Africa

The National Responsible Gambling Programme (0800 006 008) offers free, confidential counselling for problem gambling. Cleared Mind's EAP counsellors can also support you, and SADAG's Mental Health Line (011 234 4837) is available for related emotional support.

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If you or someone else is in immediate danger, reach out now. SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline (24h): 0800 567 567 or SMS 31393. SAPS 10111, ambulance 10177, GBV Command Centre 0800 428 428.