NPC calls for tighter regulations on gambling ads in South Africa
The NPC noted that the severity of the issue is underscored by the fact that many gamblers now use essential or borrowed funds to participate in online betting.
South Africa.- The National Planning Commission (NPC) has expressed concerns about the increasing prevalence of gambling advertisements across various media and digital platforms in South Africa. This issue was raised during a meeting between the NPC and the chairperson of parliament’s portfolio committee on communications and digital communications, Hon khusela Sangoni, on November 12, 2025.
The NPC cited the National Gambling Board’s 2023/24 Annual Report, which revealed that the total value of bets placed in South Africa surpassed R1.14trn (€57.4bn), equivalent to roughly 30 per cent of South Africa’s GDP and surpassing the national health budget. Although most bets are returned to players as winnings, the R59.3bn (€2.9bn) in gross revenue extracted from bettors represents the industry’s real revenue from South African households.
The commission described gambling advertising as an escalating threat, often targeting sports, entertainment and youth-focused platforms, and poses significant social and economic risks, particularly to vulnerable groups in low-income households.
The NPC noted that the severity of the issue is underscored by the fact that many gamblers now use essential or borrowed funds to participate in online betting. It referenced the Old Mutual’s 2025 Savings & Investment Monitor study, which found that 1 in 5 South African gamblers resort to borrowing, using credit or selling items to fund their gambling habits. Furthermore, one in four gamblers have experienced financial difficulties.
The NPC stated in its submission to the committee: “It seems that in the face of reckless and unchecked advertising, most South African gamblers do not know when to stop. If this trend is allowed free rein, the noble NDP goals of ending poverty, inequality and unemployment will be severely undermined. The Commission believes that responsible governance and commercial ethics must co-exist and supports calls for stronger regulation and oversight of predatory gambling advertising.”
To address the crisis, the group urged the portfolio committee to strengthen its oversight and accountability mechanisms, ensuring that industry bodies and regulators are held accountable for reigning in unchecked gambling advertising.
Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, NPC Deputy Chairperson, outlined a comprehensive strategy: “We need a coordinated national response involving regulators, broadcasters, advertisers, civil society and academic partners to review and strengthen existing policies.”
The Commission also called for restrictions on ad placement during family programming, limits on influencer promotions, and increased transparency requirements for digital gambling platforms.
In response, Hon Sangoni, Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Communications, pledged to strengthen parliamentary oversight. The committee plans to integrate the NPC’s recommendations into current legislative reforms aimed at modernising rules for advertising and digital content.
The Committee’s legislative reforms could require social media platforms, streaming services and online publishers to follow the same advertising restrictions that currently apply to traditional broadcasters, closing a loophole that has allowed gambling companies to shift marketing budgets to less-regulated digital channels.
The NPC and Parliamentary Committee agreed to collaborate on gathering stakeholder input for policy changes. They will reconvene to refine specific measures, including potential restrictions on ad placement, influencer marketing disclosures and age verification requirements for gambling platforms.
