UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT AND THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SPORTS BETTING ON THE VULNERABLE GROUPS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Data Collection Instrument: Fully Structured House Survey
The south African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)
The focus of the South African Responsible Gambling is to implement the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP), which was launched in June 2000 as a comprehensive industry response to the challenges posed by problem gambling. Currently, SARGF has defined five (5) strategic goals (outcomes) to direct its effort and focus as follows: (i.) a recognised knowledge hub for research and intelligence on responsible gambling and problem gambling, informing evidence based decision making; (ii.) comprehensive treatment and counselling services, for those affected by problem gambling, that are confidential, compassionate and free to the user; (iii.) broad access to information, education and public awareness programmes that grow awareness of responsible gambling; (iv.) industry role players are empowered to understand, identify and respond to incidents of problem gambling; and (v.) sound governance and the optimal utilisation of available resources.
About the research
In this study, the South African Gambling Foundation (SARGF) seeks to collect, process, and analyse data, information, and knowledge on the economic and social impact of sports betting in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. Furthermore, the research will focus on (i) assessing the effects and the implications of sports betting, the robust growth of sports betting industry; and the extent to which sports betting affects vulnerable groups (youth between 18 and 35 years, LSM Group particularly level 1-7, and social grant recipients). (ii.) exploring and establishing the factors associated with the potential growth of the industry in the four provinces; (iii.) determining the positive and negative economic and social outcomes of sports betting; (iv.) assess the role of technology and its impact on problem gambling; (v.) assess the role of played by operators in protecting under age children from accessing sports betting activities such as betting advertisements; (vi.) and (vii.) assess the prevalence of the risk of sports betting over the past five years among all the population who reside withing 100km radius of licenced sports betting outfit. You are requested to be honest as possible when providing your responses. All responses that you provide will be confidential and will be used for research purposes only and it will not be tied back to you or anyone close to you.
About the research team
Considering the importance of this subject and more so its sensitive nature, the SARGF has selected a team with notable experience in the gambling industry with experience to undertake surveys within the confines of high ethical standards. The teams consist of academics and practitioners in psychology and economics as well as demography, quantitative and research methods.