ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the background of gambling since regulation in South Africa, the incidence of informal and social unregulated gambling and the problems associated with gambling, its influence and participation of women in both gambling and the treatment of problems. It describes the inherent challenges of gambling related risks and other related factors associated with these behaviours amongst South Africans and focusing on South African women. The research agenda focused on understanding problem gambling, as well as the incidence of problem gambling and also a range of research on understanding informal and illegal gambling that is evident mostly in South African townships. The less affluent groupings of the South African population are significant participants in gambling activities. Within a relative short period, the spending behaviour and patterns towards leisure activities of South African households and in particular women changed towards more frequent and open gambling in the legalised and modern sites.
