South Africa strengthens regulated gambling enforcement as IGTT arrests 13 for illegal operations
The Illegal Gambling Task Team has completed its first disruptive operations in Limpopo, arresting 13 people and inspecting five illegal gambling sites as South Africa strengthens coordinated enforcement.
South Africa.- South Africa is strengthening its coordinated gambling enforcement framework with the Illegal Gambling Task Team (IGTT) completing its first disruptive operations in Limpopo, where 13 people were arrested and R10,853.10 (US$670) was seized. The move comes as the National Gambling Board (NGB) says illegal gambling deprives the country of tax revenue and undermines the regulated gambling industry.
NGB Acting CEO Lungile Dukwana welcomed the outcomes of the operation and reaffirmed the NGB’s commitment to combating illegal gambling, in a media statement issued on August 7. He said: “These operations demonstrate our collective commitment to protecting South Africans from illegal gambling. The establishment of this IGTT strengthens cooperation between regulators and law enforcement agencies and allows us to take a coordinated approach to disrupting illegal gambling activities.”
The NGB worked with the Limpopo Gambling Board, Mpumalanga Economic Regulator, North West Gambling Board and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the operations under the newly established IGTT of the Law Enforcement Forum (LEF). The LEF comprises the NGB and Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs).
The LEF adopted the National Enforcement Strategy to step up enforcement against illegal gambling across South Africa. Under the strategy, the IGTT was established to coordinate enforcement actions between gambling regulators and law enforcement agencies.
The operations were conducted in Modimolle on August 4 and Lephalale on August 6, as part of a coordinated initiative aimed at disrupting illegal gambling activities, enforcing compliance with gambling legislation and protecting the public from the risks associated with illegal gambling.
The IGTT inspected five identified illegal gambling sites, all of which were posing as internet cafés. Two of the premises displayed Film and Publication Board (FPB) certificates, with the legitimacy of those certificates referred to the FPB for further investigation.
A total of five punters, six site managers and two cashiers were arrested. Criminal cases were opened against them, further fines were issued and R10,853.10 in cash was seized.
Illegal operators face intensifying crackdown
Dukwana said the operations also highlighted the increasingly deceptive methods employed by illegal gambling operators. “While the cash seized represents only a fraction of the proceeds generated through illegal gambling, these operations send a clear message that illegal gambling will not be tolerated. Illegal gambling deprives the country of tax revenue, undermines the regulated gambling industry and exposes consumers to operators who function outside South Africa’s regulatory framework.”
Businesses posing as legitimate internet cafés while facilitating illegal gambling activities deliberately mislead consumers and undermine South Africa’s regulatory framework, according to Dukwana. He said that the NGB would continue working with regulatory and law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle such operations.
Dukwana added: “This should serve as a warning to illegal gambling operators that the NGB and its partners will continue to intensify enforcement efforts across the country. Those who continue to operate outside the law should expect action to be taken against them.”
The NGB urged members of the public to refrain from participating in illegal gambling activities, saying punters who use illegal gambling operators have limited legal protection and may be exposed to fraud and unfair gambling practices.
Members of the public are encouraged to verify whether a gambling operator is licensed before participating in any gambling activity through the NGB’s Licensed Operator Verification Portal, which enables the public to distinguish between licensed and illegal gambling operators.
Limpopo was the first province in which the IGTT conducted these disruptive operations, with lessons learnt expected to inform similar operations as the initiative is rolled out across all nine provinces.
