Provinces Told To Enforce Tougher Crackdown On Unlawful Online Casinos In South Africa

South Africa’s long-running battle with illegal online casinos has entered a new phase, with the National Gambling Board issuing a strong instruction to all nine provinces to enforce the country’s ban more aggressively. The move follows years of confusion around remote gambling systems and growing concern about the impact of unregulated betting on vulnerable communities.

Online Gambling Declared Unlawful Once Again

Although the message has been repeated many times over the years, the National Gambling Board has made it clear that online casinos remain illegal in South Africa unless explicitly allowed by national legislation.

Acting CEO Lungile Dukwana said the National Gambling Act and individual provincial gambling acts already outline the norms and standards for regulated gambling. Interactive gambling, however, has been deliberately excluded until a formal regulatory framework is finalised and signed into law.

In short, the current legislation does not recognise online casino servers or remote gambling systems as lawful. And until the president signs updated laws, they remain prohibited.

Why Servers Are Under The Microscope

To tighten compliance, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications has also stepped in. It confirmed that South Africa’s technical standards for wagering systems, known as Sans 1718-4:2018, only apply to legal gambling infrastructure. These standards do not cover online casino servers as standalone systems.

That means operators cannot submit servers for certification, and previously issued approvals have automatically lapsed or will do so upon expiry. The regulator will not renew or extend any certificates linked to remote gambling servers.

Provinces Ordered To Enforce And Act

In a firm directive, the National Gambling Board has instructed provincial authorities to align their licensing and enforcement practices with the law. This includes taking action against operators who continue to run illegal online casinos or remote betting infrastructure within provincial borders.

The board will monitor the rollout of this enforcement drive across the country and report back to the minister of trade, industry and competition on how effectively provinces are responding, as well as the overall industry impact.

A Growing Social Concern Behind The Crackdown

Illegal online gambling has become a national talking point, especially after a study by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation revealed that nearly 45% of government grant recipients were using funds intended for food, education and household necessities to gamble online.

This alarming trend has amplified calls for stronger consumer protection and tighter regulation. It also explains why government is pushing for new tools to curb harmful betting.

Treasury Eyes A New Tax On Problem Gambling

In the national budget delivered this week, the treasury confirmed it is considering a new 20 percent tax aimed at discouraging risky gambling behaviour and helping fund social interventions linked to addiction. This tax would be added on top of existing provincial gambling taxes.

The public comment period on the proposal closed on Friday, after which treasury will host consultations with stakeholders. Any revised proposals will appear in draft legislation later this year for another round of public input.

What Comes Next For South Africa’s Gambling Landscape

While the debate over legalising and properly regulating online casinos has simmered for more than a decade, the latest developments suggest government is prioritising enforcement for now rather than opening the market.

The push from the NGB and the NRCS signals a coordinated national approach: cut off illegal operators, enforce compliance across provinces, and hold off until a full regulatory framework exists. For now, the message from authorities could not be clearer. Remote gambling remains illegal, and the crackdown is only getting started.

{Source:Tech Central}

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