SABA CEO warns of threats from illegal online gambling operators
Sean Coleman noted that unlicensed platforms deliberately erode the efforts of the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation.
South Africa.- Sean Coleman, CEO of the South African Bookmakers Association (SABA), has warned about the impact and threat posed by illegal cross-border operators to the regulated South African gambling market and its consumers.
Speaking on the first day of the Responsible Gambling Summit 2025, held on November 13 at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Coleman noted that unlicensed platforms deliberately erode the efforts of the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation. He pointed out that the sites expose players to an increased risk of gambling disorders, financial loss and unverified safety concerns.
Coleman outlined the multi-pronged approach of the association in combating the issue, which includes active engagement with the banking industry, provincial regulators and national bodies, as well as targeted advertising campaigns to inform and safeguard consumers.
The SABA CEO’s speech comes at a pivotal time for South Africa, as the nation struggles with an illegal online gambling crisis marked by rising problem gambling levels and substantial losses of online gambling revenue to offshore operators.
