South Africa’s final days for expressions of interest to monitor and block illegal online gambling
South Africa’s gambling regulator is nearing the September 4 deadline for technology providers to express interest in a system to monitor, track and block illegal online gambling websites.
South Africa.- Only days remain for technology providers to respond to the National Gambling Board’s (NGB) Expression of Interest (EOI) for a system to monitor, track and block illegal online gambling websites targeting South Africans.
The deadline is September 4, 2026, following an amendment issued by the NGB on July 17 that extended the original August 7 closing date. The NGB first issued its “Expression of Interest to Block Illegal Online Gambling Websites” on June 30. The revised deadline is set out in an “Erratum to NGB Expression of Interest to Block Illegal Online Gambling Websites.” The submission reference is 01/2026_ED.
The NGB is seeking suitably qualified and experienced service providers for a monitoring, tracking, blocking and reporting solution to detect and prevent unlicensed online gambling. The proposed solution would monitor websites targeting South Africans and profile operators according to their country of origin, licence status and ownership. Identified sites would be blocked, with continuous tracking intended to ensure they are blocked again if reintroduced under new domains or addresses.
The NGB said: “South Africa is facing serious challenges in combatting illegal interactive gambling offered to South Africans.” It said the enforcement challenge is exacerbated by the offshore location of illegal operators.
The regulator added: “Illegal gambling in South Africa has expanded rapidly in both land-based and online forms, fuelled by technological advancements, policy gaps, and organised criminal activity.” It said the activity threatens public safety, the integrity of the regulated gambling industry and government revenues, while exposing vulnerable groups, including minors and problem gamblers, to significant harms.
The NGB says illegal operators have increasingly exploited online platforms, internet cafés, digital wallets, cryptocurrency transactions and cross-jurisdictional loopholes to avoid detection and regulatory oversight. It added that licensed operators are also affected by unlawful competition and non-compliant online betting activities.
Potential providers must outline their methodology, stakeholders, required approvals or licences and how they would address the challenges facing the NGB. They must also benchmark their proposals against similar services in other jurisdictions and provide observations, findings and recommendations on website blocking.
As part of the EOI process, potential providers will be invited to demonstrate how they would block the websites. The NGB is also asking providers to identify potential revenue streams that could help sustain the service.
The NGB says data collected will be shared with law enforcement to ensure illegal online gambling operators can be held to account in court and face penalties as envisaged in the National Gambling Act (NGA).
The EOI does not constitute a contract award. The NGB says information submitted will be used to develop specifications for a possible future Request for Proposals (RFP), while it reserves the right to issue one.
The deadline follows industry debate over website blocking. The Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has called for a clear legislative framework, judicial oversight and safeguards against unintended disruption. The South African Bookmakers Association (SABA) has also welcomed the NGB’s move to seek a service provider to monitor, track and block illegal gambling websites.
