South Africa’s gambling framework is set for further review after the National Gambling Policy Council (NGPC) agreed to advance a new gambling bill while preparing updated advertising regulations. The initiative follows continued concern over gambling-related harm and the growing presence of illegal online operators in the country.
Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau outlined the plans in a parliamentary reply, saying the NGPC has convened twice since July 2025 to consider policy responses aimed at improving regulation and addressing challenges across the sector.
Committee Begins Review Of Existing Legislation
One of the council’s first actions was to accelerate work on fresh legislation for the gambling industry.
“The resolution was to fast-track the development of a Bill to address gambling challenges in South Africa,” Tau said.
The NGPC has also created a Gambling Technical Committee to examine the National Gambling Amendment Bill, 2018. Its review will assess whether the National Gambling Act and provincial gambling legislation provide sufficient oversight and whether changes are required to improve consistency across jurisdictions.
Tau said the committee’s mandate is to ensure national and provincial laws are addressed effectively so gambling policy, legislation and enforcement are better aligned.
Alongside the legislative review, regulators are continuing work intended to strengthen coordination between authorities responsible for supervising the industry.
Advertising Standards Also Under Development
The proposed bill is being accompanied by new gambling advertising regulations.
According to Tau, the council recognised that advertising can influence gambling participation and contribute to addiction. In response, the National Gambling Board is working with provincial authorities to establish common advertising standards that would become part of licensing requirements for operators.
“The department has also noted that advertisement has a major role in enforcing the enticing perceptions on gambling; therefore, Regulations on gambling advertising are being developed parallel to the Bill to strengthen section 15 of the Act and Regulation 3 of the National Gambling Regulations, 2004.”
The government expects the advertising framework to create greater consistency across the regulated market while reinforcing consumer protection measures.
Illegal Market Remains Under Scrutiny
The legislative push comes as illegal online gambling continues to attract attention from both government and industry.
The South African Bookmakers’ Association (SABA) estimates that unlicensed offshore operators now account for nearly two-thirds of South Africa’s online gambling activity and cost the national economy more than R50 billion each year.
SABA Chief Executive Officer Sean Coleman said the industry’s most pressing issue lies outside the regulated market.
“While much of the recent public and media debate has focused on the growth of legal online betting, the existential crisis lies in the scale and impact of illegal offshore operators that continue to target South African consumers unchecked,” Coleman said.
Industry stakeholders have argued that operators based outside South Africa are harder to regulate, limiting authorities’ ability to enforce consumer protection measures and responsible gambling standards.
The Gambling Technical Committee will continue reviewing the National Gambling Amendment Bill, 2018, while the Department of Trade and Industry develops the accompanying advertising regulations as part of the government’s broader review of gambling policy.
Source:
“Government ramps up action on gambling with new laws in the pipeline”, iol.co.za, Jul 2, 2026
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