Women and Gambling: The Hidden Harm

Gambling harm among women is rising and often hidden, and recognising it early makes it easier to find support without shame.

4 min read · Awareness resource · Reviewed 2026-09-15

Gambling harm among women is rising, more hidden, and too often overlooked

The harm no one expected

Everyone in Naledi's life thought of gambling as a man's problem. So did she - which is part of why it took so long for anyone, including Naledi, to recognise what was happening. Her gambling was quiet and private, often online, late at night, a way to escape the relentless demands of work, home and caregiving. The shame of not fitting the stereotype kept her silent for years.

Gambling harm among women is rising and often more hidden than among men. This guide names it, explains it, and points the way to help.

What it is

Women experience gambling harm too, increasingly so, but often differently from men and frequently unseen. Women are more likely to gamble privately, often online, and more likely to describe it as escape from stress, loneliness, caregiving pressure or difficult emotions. Because gambling is still stereotyped as a male problem, women's harm is more easily missed - by others and by themselves - and shame can run especially deep.

Common signs

• Private, often online gambling - late at night or when alone

• Using gambling to escape stress, loneliness, grief or caregiving pressure

• Deep shame and secrecy; hiding it from family and friends

• Money disappearing from household or personal accounts

• Anxiety, low mood or exhaustion alongside the gambling

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please reach out now: SADAG 0800 567 567, Suicide Crisis Helpline 0800 567 567, or SAPS 10111 in an emergency. You are not alone, and help is available 24 hours a day.

Why it happens

For many women, gambling is less about excitement and more about escape - a private space away from the pressures of work, home, finances and caring for others. Online gambling makes that escape available anywhere, anytime, without anyone seeing. The stereotype that gambling is a male problem means women are less likely to be asked about it and more likely to struggle in silence.

In South Africa, where many women carry heavy financial and caregiving loads, the pull of a private escape, and the shame of admitting it, can be especially strong. None of this is a personal failing; it is a human response to real pressure, and it deserves support, not judgement.

Self-help tools

• Name it without shame - gambling harm is a health issue, not a character flaw

• Address the stress or loneliness the gambling is soothing

• Put barriers in place: self-exclude, block apps, protect your accounts

• Tell one trusted person; secrecy keeps the harm alive

• Build in rest and support so escape is not the only relief available

How we can help

We offer support that understands the whole context of women's lives:

• Free, confidential counselling, private and judgement-free

• Support for the stress, caregiving load and emotions underneath the gambling

• A warm referral to specialist gambling and mental-health services

When to seek support

Reach out if gambling has become a private escape that is costing you money, sleep or peace - whatever the stereotype says. You deserve support exactly as much as anyone, and reaching out is a sign of strength, not failure.

Try this (2 minutes)

Name the need underneath. Ask yourself one honest question: when I gamble, what am I really reaching for - rest, escape, excitement, relief from pressure? Write down the answer. Naming the real need is the first step to meeting it in a way that heals rather than harms, and it is something a counsellor can help you build on.

Free South African support

• National Responsible Gambling Programme - 0800 006 008

• SADAG (mental health) - 0800 567 567

• Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0800 567 567

• Gamblers Anonymous South Africa - support groups nationwide

References

American Psychiatric Association, 2013. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

World Health Organization, 2019. International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11): Gambling Disorder. Geneva: World Health Organization.

National Responsible Gambling Programme, n.d. Help for Problem Gambling. [online] Available at: https://www.responsiblegambling.org.za [Accessed June 2026].

South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), n.d. Helplines and Resources. [online] Available at: https://www.sadag.org [Accessed June 2026].