Responsible gambling
Betting should be entertainment you can afford, never a way to make money. Here are the tools, legal ages and support services for the markets we cover.
Keep betting under control
- Decide how much you can afford to lose before you start, and stop when it is gone.
- Keep betting money separate from money for rent, school fees, food and bills.
- Never borrow to bet, including through mobile loans or overdrafts.
- Do not chase losses with bigger stakes.
- Set a time limit and take regular breaks.
- Avoid betting when you are stressed, upset or have been drinking.
Signs that betting may be a problem
- Spending more money or time on betting than you planned.
- Betting to win back losses or to solve money problems.
- Borrowing money or selling things to bet.
- Hiding betting from family or friends.
- Feeling anxious or irritable when you are not betting.
- Neglecting work, study or family because of betting.
Tools at betting sites
Look in your account settings for these tools and set them up when you open an account:
- Deposit limits — a daily, weekly or monthly cap on how much you can pay in.
- Time-outs — a short break from your account, from a day to several weeks.
- Self-exclusion — closing your account for a longer period. Some regulators also run national self-exclusion schemes, listed below.
Legal betting age by country
| Country | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | 18 |
| Ghana | 18 |
| Kenya | 18 |
| South Africa | 18 |
| Tanzania | 18 |
| Uganda | 25 |
| Zambia | 18 |
| Malawi | 18 |
| Botswana | 21 (Parliament passed an amendment in 2026 to lower it to 18; the change applies once it is signed into law and brought into force) |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 18 (21 for casinos and slot halls) |
| Cameroon | 21 |
| Senegal | 18 |
Where to get help
| Country | Support |
|---|---|
| South Africa | National Responsible Gambling Programme: free, confidential 24-hour helpline 0800 006 008 and WhatsApp 076 675 0710 (responsiblegambling.org.za) |
| Uganda | National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board: toll-free 0800 285 800 and a self-exclusion form |
| Malawi | Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority: toll-free line 4252 and self-exclusion for at least one year |
| Botswana | Gambling Authority: toll-free 19777, free counselling and self-exclusion |
| Tanzania | Gaming Board of Tanzania: toll-free 0800 110 051 (complaints and contact) |
| Kenya | Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya: self-exclusion service on gra.go.ke |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Voluntary exclusion through the ARJH and self-exclusion through LONACI |
| Senegal | LONASE lists CEPIAD in Dakar (33 869 32 82), Dalal Xel in Thiès (33 851 00 11) and the Thiaroye psychiatric hospital (33 834 80 80) on its responsible gaming page |
| All markets | Gambling Therapy: free, confidential online support in several languages |
If you are worried about someone else’s betting, South Africa’s National Responsible Gambling Programme and Gambling Therapy also support family members and friends.
Protecting children
- Keep betting apps and accounts protected with a PIN or password, and never share login details.
- Do not let anyone under the legal age use your account or your mobile money wallet to bet.
- Use the parental controls on your phone and computer to block betting sites and apps.