What begins as a quick fix for empty cupboards is fast turning into a dangerous cycle of debt and addiction for many students. <\/p>\n
For some, online gambling, often introduced through \u201cfree spins\u201d and easy sign-ups, has become a survival tactic while waiting for National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding (NSFAS)<\/a>, with devastating consequences.<\/p>\n It all started with free spins that won Noxolo*, a third-year student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, R500.<\/p>\n At the time, she was a first-year student still waiting for her funding from the NSFAS<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI had just arrived on campus, and my parents didn\u2019t give me much because we all knew NSFAS would cover accommodation and fees. But a week became two weeks, then a month. I ran out of toiletries and the little groceries I had,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Noxolo, who asked not to be identified for fear of losing her NSFAS funding, said she survived on noodles and boiled eggs, sometimes just noodles.<\/p>\n Her introduction to gambling came in a lift conversation with other students facing similar struggles.<\/p>\n \u201cOne student said she didn\u2019t even have R1 and asked when NSFAS was paying. Another asked if we didn\u2019t know about Betway, which gives you free spins when you sign up. He showed me how it worked and said this is how students survive while waiting for NSFAS<\/a>,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n When these funds are diverted to gambling, it undermines academic success and long-term financial well-being. This partnership focuses on prevention, awareness and empowering students to make informed choices.<\/p>\n \u2014 \u00a0NSFAS acting CEO Waseem Carrim<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That first bet changed everything.<\/p>\n \u201cI won R500, and he showed me how to withdraw it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Tired of asking her parents for money, she began gambling more frequently, initially buying vouchers from local shops to avoid linking her bank account.<\/p>\n \u201cI was scared of losing my NSFAS, but then I realised other students were using their bank apps,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She said the initial wins are what hook many students. \u201cWhen you start playing, you win a lot, that\u2019s how you get addicted.\u201d This year, when she received R10,800, including her book allowance, she lost most of it to gambling. <\/p>\n \u201cAt one point, I won R20,000, and my family was so happy. We bought things we needed. But the money doesn\u2019t last as I had to pay my debts and go back to gambling,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Another student, Ayanda*, described gambling as a constant emotional and financial gamble.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a win-or-lose situation. Sometimes I win and can buy toiletries, clothes, groceries and school supplies. But when I start losing, it\u2019s stressful because I have to borrow from other students,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very addictive. You keep betting, hoping to win, but you end up losing more money. At home, they don\u2019t send me extra cash, so I have to survive on R1,700, and honestly, it\u2019s not enough in this economy.\u201d<\/p>\n NSFAS has acknowledged the growing concern, saying research shows that financial pressure, aggressive digital advertising, easy online access and targeted promotions are driving increased gambling among young people, often at the expense of their academic performance, financial stability and well-being.<\/p>\n\n