Dr Bonginkosi Mafuze - Sports Betting Addiction: The Mental Health Crisis and How to Get Help

A sharp rise in sports betting is creating a mental health crisis, with a 55% increase in counseling referrals and a staggering 623% surge in calls to the National Responsible Gambling Programme. This discussion with a psychiatrist reveals how betting apps are designed for addiction, using "intermittent reinforcement", unpredictable, occasional wins, to trigger a powerful dopamine response in the brain. The consequences extend beyond financial ruin to increased domestic violence, substance abuse, and severe emotional distress, particularly among 18-35 year olds.