Hidden economy in South Africa worth R1.5 billion, driven by luck and desperate collectors

• The hidden economy in South Africa worth R1.5 billion is driven by luck and desperate collectors who buy and sell trading cards from popular franchises.
• The South African trading card industry has grown significantly since the release of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, with popular games like Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh contributing to its growth.
• The industry's global value is estimated at over R400 billion, making it a small but significant fraction of the larger market.