Gauteng Gambling Board calls for vigilance as illegal gambling thrives
Board head Dr Karabo Mbele has said that illegal gambling persists not only in Gauteng but across South Africa and beyond.
South Africa.- The Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB) has expressed concern over the rise of illegal gambling, both online and offline, which poses a significant challenge to the industry. Speaking at a press conference, Board head Dr Karabo Mbele explained that illegal gambling persists not only in Gauteng but across South Africa and beyond.
She noted that more than 90 illegal online gambling sites had been identified in the past year, often operating from overseas locations while targeting local users. Land-based illegal operations, hidden in places like taverns or eateries, compound the issue, with the board relying on community tips and law enforcement partnerships to tackle them.
The Gauteng Gambling Board has stepped up enforcement, conducting 438 raids in the 2023/24 fiscal year and seizing 792 illegal gambling machines. In the first half of 2024/25, more than 250 unlicensed sites were shut down across the province.
A raid in Germiston in April 2025 led to four arrests and the seizure of 28 machines. Recent actions include a joint operation with Yeoville Police in October 2025, where six individuals were arrested and six machines were confiscated from shopping outlets.
Dr Mbele highlighted the board’s collaboration with entities like the National Gambling Board to block these sites from accessing South African bank accounts and punters. According to her, illegal gambling thrives due to limited resources and public unawareness.
The board derives revenue from licensed operations through levies and taxes, but unlicensed sites evade this, reducing funds for oversight and support programmes. She said: “You can imagine if you have legal facilities that are sprouting throughout Gauteng, that we don’t know of, where we cannot monitor,” emphasising the inability to prevent underage access or excessive play in such places.
The GGB Chief pointed out that these operations often blend into everyday spots, such as family diners or shebeens, making them hard to spot. She stated: “Most of these places happen where there is already an eatery. It’s a spot where I go to eat.” Signs of legal venues include visible licences, responsible gambling posters and cordoned-off areas to shield children.
The economic toll is significant. Illegal online gambling drains more than R50bn (€2.6bn) from South Africa’s economy annually, with funds flowing offshore to unlicensed operators. Nationally, illegal activities account for around 62 per cent of the market, with gross revenues estimated at R72.2bn (€3.6bn) in 2024 for illicit operations alone.
Dr Mbele stressed the human side, urging families to watch for signs of excessive gambling in loved ones. She said: “We constantly make heartfelt calls to families and to communities to say, should they be aware of a family member, a community member who is susceptible and excessively gambles, for example, that support is often needed.” The board promotes education on spotting legal sites and offers helplines for addiction support.
The Gauteng Gambling Amendment Bill, discussed in August 2025, aims to modernise laws, boost compliance and eradicate illegal operations. Community involvement is also key in stopping the rise. Dr Mbele credited whistleblowers and outreach programmes, like school awareness campaigns, for helping curb the spread and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious gambling activities.
