NGB orders provinces to remove illegal gambling ads
Under the new directive, each province must conduct full compliance reviews of every gambling ad run by its licensees.
South Africa.- The National Gambling Board (NGB) has instructed all nine Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs) to immediately inspect and remove gambling advertisements that breach the law. In a directive issued on December 1, 2025, the NGB stated that it “has noted with concern the increasing prevalence of gambling-related advertising that appears to contravene the provisions of the National Gambling Act, 2004” and is now directing all relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to ensure compliance with the regulations.
The board reminded provinces that Section 15 of the Act bans any advertising that is misleading, unlawful or directed at minors, and requires every advertisement for gambling activities, machines or premises to include responsible gambling warnings in the prescribed format. It also forbids promotions that present gambling as “free” or “discounted” in a way that serves as an improper inducement.
Section 3 tightens the rules further by prohibiting lewd or indecent content, any claim of guaranteed success, suggestions that gambling can solve financial hardship, and outdoor advertising aimed at schools, youth centres or university campuses.
Under the new directive, each province must conduct full compliance reviews of every billboard, television commercial, radio spot, social media post and influencer promotion run by its licensees. Anything that fails to meet the legal standards must be taken down without delay, including material placed by operators who hold no licence in that province. Influencer and brand-ambassador content that lacks the required responsible gambling messages must also be withdrawn immediately.
The NGB states: “Where non-compliances are detected, PLAs are requested to impose the appropriate enforcement measures, including fines, additional licence conditions, or suspensions on the relevant licensee, where appropriate.”
The NGB itself will continue to monitor advertisements across all media and will notify the relevant province as soon as a breach is identified. Every province is required to submit a detailed report within 30 days of receiving the official reporting template and then quarterly thereafter. Those reports must list every advertisement removed, describe the nature of each violation, the penalties imposed and explain the steps taken to prevent repeats.
The first provincial reports, due in early January 2026, will show how strictly the rules are being applied and whether the NGB’s coordinated approach succeeds in creating a safer gambling environment in South Africa.
