Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau has revealed that the National Gambling Policy Council (NGPC) is moving to fast-track new gambling legislation
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Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau has revealed that the National Gambling Policy Council (NGPC) is moving to fast-track new gambling legislation and stricter advertising regulations in a bid to strengthen oversight of South Africa’s gambling industry.
This comes as concerns persist over rising gambling addiction and the growing impact of both legal and illegal gambling activity in South Africa.
IOL previously reported that illegal online gambling is now draining South Africa’s economy of more than R50 billion a year, with unlicensed offshore operators now accounting for nearly two-thirds of all online gambling activity in the country.
This is according to the South African Bookmakers’ Association (SABA), which warned that illegal online gambling has reached crisis levels, threatening consumers, legitimate operators and the economy.
“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," CEO Sean Coleman said.
In a parliamentary reply, Tau said the NGPC has met twice since July 2025 to assess gambling-related challenges and develop policy responses aimed at addressing gambling addiction and improving regulatory oversight.
He said the council has noted the impact of gambling advertising on the propensity to gamble, including its role in addiction, and that the National Gambling Board is working with provincial authorities to develop uniform norms and standards that will be implemented as licensing conditions.
"The resolution was to fast-track the development of a Bill to address gambling challenges in South Africa," Tau said.
"The NGPC has also established a Gambling Technical Committee, whose mandate is to review the National Gambling Amendment Bill, 2018, to ensure that the National Gambling Act and Provincial laws are addressed effectively and sufficiently at the NGPC for cohesion and harmonisation of gambling policy, law and enforcement in South Africa."
He also said that the department is developing new regulations on gambling advertising alongside the proposed legislation.
"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."
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