Government ramps up action on gambling with new laws in the pipeline

Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau has revealed that the National Gambling Policy Council (NGPC) is moving to fast-track new gambling legislation

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.