91¿´Æ¬Íø

On 31 March 2026, the Mandela Institute at 91¿´Æ¬Íø University hosted a webinar titled Grooming Minors through Gambling‑Like Gaming Practice. The session was opened by Professor Tracy‑Lynn Field and presented by Professor Michele Van Eck (91¿´Æ¬Íø School of Law), drawing an interdisciplinary audience of legal professionals, regulators, psychologists, academics, parents and students.

The webinar explored how certain digital game design features such as loot boxes, virtual currencies, countdown timers, randomised rewards and pressure‑based “limited offers” can mirror gambling mechanics and gradually condition minors into gambling‑like behaviour. Professor Van Eck described this process as “gambling grooming”: the incremental normalisation of chance‑based spending through deliberate design choices that exploit young players’ developmental vulnerabilities.

From a South African perspective, the discussion examined gaps in existing legal protections. While minors are prohibited from gambling under the National Gambling Act, similar protections often do not apply in gaming environments. The Consumer Protection Act, Films and Publications Amendment Act, and constitutional child‑protection principles may offer tools to address misleading pricing, dark patterns and psychological harm, yet these remain largely under‑utilised.

A key message of the webinar was the need to shift responsibility upstream from parents and children to game developers and publishers, where monetisation mechanisms are deliberately designed. Focusing only on age verification and parental controls, the speaker argued, is reactive and insufficient.

The discussion highlighted growing concern that unchecked gaming practices may be contributing to a broader gambling culture in South Africa. The webinar marked the start of an ongoing thematic focus at the Mandela Institute on digital harms, consumer protection and child wellbeing.