Illegal Online Gambling South Africa Faces Crisis With 90 Unauthorized Sites
South Africa’s gambling regulators face mounting pressure as authorities reveal that at least 90 unlicensed online gambling platforms continue operating within the country’s borders, all holding foreign registrations that place them beyond local regulatory reach. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau disclosed the enforcement crisis during recent parliamentary proceedings.
Limited Resources Hamper Enforcement Efforts
The revelation highlights significant enforcement gaps in South Africa’s digital gambling oversight. Offshore-licensed operators exploit regulatory loopholes while serving South African customers without proper authorization. The National Gambling Board operates with minimal staffing to address illegal gambling. Only two personnel handle identification and tracking of unauthorized gambling websites nationwide.
The board allocates R596,000 ($33,734) for enforcement activities during the 2025/26 financial period. Minister Tau explained the budget allocation to parliament. “The National Gambling Board has allocated financial resources to the extent of R596,000 for the identification of illegal gambling websites. This includes travel costs and legal enforcement forum meetings to be held in the 2025/26 financial year period.” The board relies heavily on third-party reports and public complaints. Citizens submit reports through dedicated email channels and fraud hotlines to identify illegal operations.
Tech Giants Resist Removal Requests
Efforts to eliminate illegal gambling sites from search results prove largely unsuccessful. The National Gambling Board submitted removal requests for 10 gambling websites to Google Africa during the 2024/25 financial year. None of these sites have disappeared from search engine results despite official government requests.
Tau confirmed the lack of progress. “To date, none of the websites have been removed from the search engine, and yes, the NGB has engaged with Google SA.” The regulatory body continues working with various stakeholders. These stakeholders provide platforms that enable websites to operate within South African digital infrastructure.
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