We examine the reality of online gambling in South Africa and discuss whether the recent call for a ban by Rise Mzansi is altruistic or merely self-serving politicking.
South Africa’s history with gambling has always been a strained one. Strong ties between government and religion meant that from 1965, the only legal gambling in the country was betting on horse races at the TAB.
With the end of Apartheid, the newly elected ANC government made allowances for land-based casinos to offer games of chance, which, as the ‘only game in town’, made them an absolute fortune from local gamblers and foreign visitors. To keep the money flowing, this meant establishing larger casino floors with garish drapery and venues that could host a variety of shows and entertainment.
Then came the internet and, along with it, online gambling. Many decried the harm of this new form of gambling, backed by those with the most to lose - land-based casino license holders.
Under the current Gambling Act, licensed operators are permitted to offer bets on online sports and horse races. Random number generator (RNG) games of chance, such as slots, roulette, or baccarat, are illegal, which has led innovative developers to create lookalike games using fixed odds systems for their payouts.
Locally licensed operators must adhere to strict compliance standards that ensure no underage gambling, secure payment processing, and a range of easy-to-use safer gambling tools.
According to the National Gambling Board, locals spent approximately R1.1 trillion in the 2023/2024 financial year, resulting in a Gross Gambling Revenue figure of R59.3 billion. Reports for 2025 predict GGR could climb as high as R74 billion.
Recent media reports have highlighted a new call for online gambling to be banned in South Africa. The call is using the well-worn trope of needing to protect the country’s poorer economic groups from the lure of “online money games”.
The call is coming from Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana, who said:
If these companies do not pay for the damage they are causing, we will be left with a huge burden, where a portion of the money that is supposed to go towards development will have to be used to rehabilitate online gambling addicts.
The problem with this statement is that licensed providers already make a “voluntary contribution” of 0.1% of Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) specifically towards safer gambling and related programs.
This means that online gambling alone contributed R59.3 million to gambling addiction initiatives in 2023/2024. Please note that this is in addition to any other taxes, fees, and licensing requirements they must pay to operate in South Africa.
It is possible that Gana could be using this cause as a platform to get Rise Mzansi in the news. According to news reports, the newly formed political party has received more than R30 million in funding from the Oppenheimer family, and another R15 million from the 'We Are The People' trust, as well as funding from an anonymous trust in Luxembourg, all while only gaining two National Assembly seats.
The reality is that while anti-online gambling lobbyists and some political parties are raving about the country’s out-of-control gambling problem, local stats align with most other countries with longstanding regulation.
Problem Gambling Rates per Region:
Given the limited scope of the regulated gambling industry, the rates are well within the bounds seen worldwide. Banning online casinos outright would only worsen the boots-on-the-ground reality of at-risk gamblers, as they would then be forced to play exclusively at unregulated offshore and crypto casinos.
With this in mind, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has the most mature approach to the issue of online gambling. The party recognises the shortcomings of the National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 and has proposed placing it under review with the intent of modernising it.
Toby Chance, DA national spokesman on trade, industry & competition, said:
The DA is not in favour of banning all online gambling. However, my private member’s bill introduces measures to control and restrict advertising, adds protections for vulnerable persons and minors, as well as penalties for non-compliance. It also requires gambling operators to place more emphasis on ensuring responsible gambling.
These are the exact measures which have proven to be the most successful in increasing market channelisation and reducing gambling harms in key segments like the youth and those with known compulsive gambling leanings.
Until the ANC agrees with the other parties on a way forward, it will continue to be business as usual for the online gambling industry. This means that South African gamblers can continue to enjoy generous welcome bonuses at online casinos and sports betting providers with proven track records of honouring wins, offering world-class customer service, and adding exciting new games and markets every month.
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rise mzansi games of chance online gambling gambling in south africa democratic alliance sports betting
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