Africa’s biggest regulated gambling market is stepping up efforts to shut down illegal online betting platforms as authorities seek to recover lost tax revenue, protect consumers and tighten oversight of an industry that handled more than $91 billion (R1.5 trillion) in wagers over the past year.
South Africa’s National Gambling Board (NGB) has issued a request for service providers to help identify and block illegal gambling websites, signalling one of the country’s strongest enforcement actions yet against offshore betting operators.
The move comes as online gambling continues to reshape Africa’s gaming industry, with smartphones, digital payments and internet access driving rapid growth while making it easier for unlicensed foreign operators to reach millions of users.
Industry research commissioned by the South African Bookmakers Association estimates that illegal operators account for 62% of South Africa’s online betting market, attracting about 16 million users and generating more than $3 billion (R50 billion) in gross gambling revenue every year.
According to the gambling regulator, illegal operators undermine the regulated industry, deprive the government of tax revenue and expose consumers to platforms that operate outside South African law.
