South Africa to revive National Gambling Policy Council for advertising crackdown
After years of dormancy, the National Gambling Policy Council is being revived to tackle irresponsible advertising and protect minors from exposure to betting content.
South Africa.- South Africa’s government is tightening its grip on the gambling sector, announcing plans to revive the long-defunct National Gambling Policy Council to rein in irresponsible advertising practices.
The move comes on the heels of a damning National Gambling Board (NGB) study revealing widespread non-compliance among betting companies.
Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, confirmed the council’s reinstatement in Parliament this week. He explained that the policy council had been on a seven-year hiatus.
“The National Gambling Act prohibits the placing of advertisements in media primarily directed at persons under the age of 18. However, the board has noted that advertisements have frequently been aired during family viewing times, including during popular shows like MasterChef and Junior MasterChef,” he told MPs, according to News24.
Ads lacked gambling disclaimers
The NGB study highlighted a disturbing trend of betting ads appearing during prime-time family shows and across platforms frequented by minors – from traditional TV to YouTube and radio streaming services. Many of these ads lacked proper responsible gambling disclaimers.
“There is an issue of sponsorship of family-friendly programmes, where major bookkeepers sponsor them. This results in the increase of visibility and frequency of gambling content during shows mostly viewed by minors,” Tau added.
Decade-long absence of Gambling Board
Even more troubling is the decade-long absence of the Gambling Board from active duty, having been placed under administration in 2014. Efforts to reconstitute the board began only last year, with new members and a CEO currently being appointed.
Meanwhile, the National Gambling Policy Council, which hasn’t met since 2018, will now be reactivated “without delay,” according to Tau. Its primary mandate will be to strengthen the enforcement of gambling laws across provinces and ensure uniformity in how regulations are applied, especially online.
“There is an intention to ensure that we can regulate online gambling. It is an environment where different provinces have different approaches, with some being more relaxed. We also want to ensure that there is rehabilitation for addicts,” Tau said.
As the online gambling space expands, so does the urgency to protect vulnerable viewers, particularly children, from unchecked marketing tactics. The council’s return signals a renewed commitment to cleaning up the industry and holding advertisers accountable.
