All Articles

South Africa’s gambling sector could soon face one of the highest tax burdens in the world if the government proceeds with a proposal to introduce a 20% national levy on gross gambling revenue (GGR) from online betting.   While officials argue that the measure is intended to address the growing social impact of online gambling, industry stakeholders contend that the policy amounts to a revenue grab that will disproportionately penalize licensed operators without delivering ta

South Africans who access unlicensed offshore gambling websites face serious legal and financial consequences, including the possible loss of both their deposits and any winnings.   Financial institutions are obligated under the law to seize funds connected to illegal betting activities, meaning users may never recover money earned through these platforms.   According to the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), national legislation forbids residents from participat

The large-scale confiscation of illegal gaming machines in Cape Town has been welcomed by the Eastern Cape Gambling Board, which has praised the operation as a sign of a more robust approach to combating unlawful gambling activity.   Authorities believe the machines were intended for distribution throughout the Eastern Cape before investigators intervened.   South Africa, and the Eastern Cape in particular, operates under stringent rules governing the supply and placement of

South Africa’s National Treasury has extended the deadline for public submissions on its proposal to introduce a 20% national tax on online and interactive gambling revenue, granting stakeholders an additional month to comment before Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presents the 2026 Budget.   The move follows requests from interested parties for more time to assess and respond to the proposal.   Treasury initially invited public comment after releasing a draft discussion pa

The European Union has acknowledged the substantial progress achieved by South African institutions in closing long-standing gaps within the country’s financial and regulatory framework, following a period of close international scrutiny in which the jurisdiction worked to bring its domestic laws into line with the global standards set by the Financial Action Task Force. Through the introduction of stronger oversight structures and greater transparency around beneficial owner

Legislation intended to overhaul and modernise South Africa’s gambling regulatory framework has reached a critical impasse, caught in a web of procedural delays and escalating tensions between national and provincial authorities.   The National Gambling Amendment Bill, first tabled in 2018, has now lapsed on two occasions and is once again facing firm resistance from provinces, which argue that the proposed reforms threaten constitutional powers, undermine provincial revenues