South Africa’s National Gambling Board (NGB) has called for policy-level discussions on the regulation of online gambling as the sector continues to grow.
Speaking before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition on June 24, NGB CEO Lungile Dukwana explained that the regulator has engaged the National Gambling Policy Council (NGPC) on key challenges in overseeing the online gambling space. A report has been prepared for the council, outlining areas that require further consideration, including online gambling regulation, betting exchanges, and issues related to historical loss tracing.
One of the board’s primary concerns is the movement of gambling revenue to offshore platforms that operate outside South Africa’s regulatory system. These operators do not contribute taxes locally and are not subject to the same consumer protection standards as licensed providers.
The NGB also highlighted the growing visibility of online gambling advertisements across various media channels. According to Dukwana, this trend has raised concerns about increased exposure, particularly among young people and other vulnerable groups, prompting discussions around stricter controls.
Research presented during the meeting pointed to risky gambling behaviours among some consumers, including the use of borrowed funds for betting and reports of social grant money being used for gambling activities.
Proposed measures under review include tighter enforcement of advertising regulations, restrictions on the timing of gambling promotions, and action against misleading marketing practices.
The NGB noted that its engagement with the policy council aims to address existing regulatory gaps and explore possible policy responses. The NGPC is expected to review the report and its recommendations as part of ongoing discussions on the future of online gambling regulation in South Africa.
