South Africa Moves to Block Illegal Gambling Websites

PRETORIA: South Africa’s National Gambling Board is seeking a technology provider to help block illegal online gambling websites.

The move is aimed at offshore operators that target South African consumers without local licences, taxes or consumer protection controls.

The National Gambling Board’s expression of interest calls for a monitoring, tracking, blocking and reporting solution to detect and prevent unlicensed online gambling activity. The document was published on June 30, with expressions of interest due by August 7.

NGB Seeks Blocking and Tracking System

The regulator is asking qualified service providers to propose systems that can identify illegal gambling websites targeting South Africans. The provider would also be expected to profile operators by country of origin, licence status and ownership details.

The NGB said the system should block identified websites and continue tracking them if operators reappear under new domains or addresses. Intelligence gathered through the process would be shared with law enforcement agencies to support investigations and prosecutions.

The board said South Africa is struggling to enforce against illegal interactive gambling services because many operators are based in foreign jurisdictions. Those operators can use digital wallets, cryptocurrency transactions and cross-border regulatory gaps to keep targeting local consumers.

A virtual briefing session for prospective bidders is scheduled for July 15. The expression of interest is the first stage of the process and is expected to prequalify providers before a formal request for proposals or tender is launched.

Illegal Operators Threaten Regulated Market

The NGB said illegal gambling has expanded quickly across both land-based and online markets. It cited technological advances, policy gaps and organized criminal activity as factors behind the growth.

Under South Africa’s National Gambling Act, unauthorized interactive gambling is prohibited unless allowed by national legislation. The NGB said no law has been passed to legalize interactive gambling, meaning unlicensed online gambling continues to breach the Act.

The regulator said illegal operators undermine licensed gambling businesses, reduce provincial and national revenue and expose consumers to platforms operating outside South African oversight. Licensed operators must follow requirements covering age verification, anti-money laundering checks and responsible gambling standards.

The consumer risk is also central to the enforcement push. The NGB said illegal operators can expose vulnerable groups, including minors and problem gamblers, to gambling products that do not carry the same safeguards as licensed platforms.

The issue also fits into wider responsible gambling concerns as online betting becomes easier to access through mobile devices, digital payments and high-volume advertising.

Online Betting Growth Drives Policy Review

The website-blocking plan comes as South Africa reviews how it regulates online gambling. NGB chief executive Lungile Dukwana recently told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition that the regulator had raised online gambling, betting exchanges and historical loss tracing with the National Gambling Policy Council.

Dukwana said offshore websites were a primary concern because gambling revenue flows outside South Africa’s regulatory framework. Those operators do not pay local gambling taxes or levies and are not subject to the same consumer protection obligations as licensed companies.

The regulator has also raised concerns about online gambling advertising across multiple media channels. Discussions are underway on stricter controls, including limits on when gambling ads may appear and measures targeting misleading promotional content.

South Africa’s broader gambling market has grown rapidly, with official industry figures showing R1.5 trillion in wagers in the 12 months to March 2025 across all forms of gambling, including recycled winnings. That growth has increased pressure on regulators to address tax leakage, illegal websites and consumer harm.

National Treasury has also proposed a 20% tax on online gambling as part of wider efforts to raise public revenue and address harmful gambling. Licensed bookmakers have warned that higher taxes could push more consumers toward offshore illegal operators unless enforcement improves first.

The NGB’s blocking plan shows that South Africa is moving toward technology-led enforcement rather than relying only on investigations after illegal websites are already active. The challenge will be whether blocking, payment controls and law enforcement cooperation can keep pace with operators that can quickly change domains, payment methods and jurisdictions.

RELATED TOPICS: Regulation