South Africa is considering tougher measures against illegal offshore gambling, with renewed debate over whether internet service providers should be required to block access to unlicensed gambling websites.

The discussion follows a position paper released on 2 July by the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) in response to proposals from the National Gambling Board (NGB), which has called for website blocking as part of its broader strategy to combat illegal offshore operators targeting South African players.

While supporting efforts to tackle illegal gambling, ISPA said any website-blocking measures must be backed by clear legislation, judicial oversight, and constitutional safeguards to protect digital rights and ensure due process.

ISPA Chair Sasha Booth-Beharilal said restrictions on internet access should balance consumer protection with the public’s constitutional right to communicate. The association stressed that blocking directives should only be implemented through a transparent legal framework.

To guide future policy, ISPA proposed five key principles: court-authorised blocking orders, public disclosure of blocking directives, regular reviews of blocked websites, allowing internet service providers to determine the most appropriate technical solutions, and fair allocation of implementation costs.

The association also warned that common website-blocking methods, including DNS blocking, IP address blocking, and deep packet inspection, have technical limitations and may unintentionally affect legitimate websites or raise privacy concerns.

The debate comes amid growing concern over South Africa’s expanding online gambling market. During a recent symposium hosted by Stellenbosch University, researchers estimated that South Africans wager approximately R1.5 trillion (US$92.3 billion) annually, while officials warned that illegal gambling platforms are increasingly targeting young people and university students.

The South African Bookmakers Association (SABA) has backed the National Gambling Board’s efforts to strengthen enforcement against illegal offshore operators. SABA Chief Executive Officer Sean Coleman said existing laws already prohibit illegal online gambling, but stronger enforcement and coordinated action are needed to address offshore operators.

A 2024 Yield Sec report commissioned by SABA estimated that illegal offshore operators account for 62% of South Africa’s online gambling market, with more than R50 billion (US$3.1 billion) in gross gambling revenue leaving the country each year.

As discussions continue, industry stakeholders agree that any website-blocking strategy should be supported by robust legislation, regulatory oversight, and constitutional protections to effectively combat illegal gambling while safeguarding digital rights.