Just under half the problem gamblers in South Africa spend most of their time gambling illegally.

According to Peter Collins, executive director of the National Responsible Gambling Programme, illegal or informal gambling at shebeens, on street corners and at home accounts for 12% to 15% of gambling in South Africa.

Collins said the statistics were based on the Canadian problem gambling index, which was used to survey South Africans in 2008.

The survey found that 3% of gamblers were problem gamblers. Of those, 48% played only at informal venues.

The illegal games include a lottery-type game called fahfee (12%) and dice (5%). An unknown number of illegal gamblers played cards.

William Eadington, of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gambling, at the University of Nevada, US, said illegal gambling was a concern and that South Africa might have to review its gambling regulations.

He said the National Responsible Gambling Programme worked well and problem gambling was within international norms.