South Africa’s Western Cape gambling tax hits US$72.9m as sports betting leads
Sports betting brought in the biggest share, while casinos, horse racing and LPMs also added to the Western Cape’s gambling tax take during the first seven months of 2026.
Key takeaways:
- The Western Cape collected R1.192bn (US$72.9m) in gambling tax between January and July, with sports betting contributing the largest share at R692.44m (US$42.3m).
- Sports betting turnover reached R224.35bn (US$13.71bn) during the seven-month period, generating R10.66bn (US$651.8m) in gross gaming revenue.
- Horse racing, casinos and LPMs contributed a combined R499.41m (US$30.6m) in gambling tax during the period, with horse racing accounting for R217.68m (US$13.3m).
- July gambling tax collections totalled R174.1m (US$10.6m) across the four sectors, with sports betting accounting for R93.56m (US$5.7m).
- Horse-racing tax rose by about 27 per cent in July compared with June, reaching R38.67m (US$2.4m), while GGR increased to R644.50m (US$39.4m).
South Africa.- South Africa’s Western Cape province collected R1.192bn (US$72.9m) in gambling tax between January and July 2026, with sports betting accounting for the largest share at R692.44m (US$42.3m). According to tax collection statistics published by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB), horse racing contributed R217.68m (US$13.3m), casinos R211.89m (US$13m) and limited payout machines (LPMs) R69.84m (US$4.3m).
July alone brought in about R174.1m (US$10.6m) in gambling tax across the four sectors. Sports betting accounted for R93.56m (US$5.7m), followed by horse racing with R38.67m (US$2.4m). Casinos generated R30.86m (US$1.9m) in tax, while LPMs contributed R10.99m (US$672,000).
The betting figures show how much activity was behind the tax take. Turnover reached R224.35bn (US$13.71bn) between January and July, producing R10.66bn (US$651.8m) in gross gaming revenue (GGR).
Betting leads, casinos follow
In July, turnover came to R31.78bn (US$1.94bn), while GGR was R1.44bn (US$88m) and tax stood at R93.56m (US$5.7m). GGR and tax were both slightly lower than in June, when they reached R1.45bn (US$88.7m) and R94.11m (US$5.8m) respectively, even though July turnover was higher.
May produced the biggest numbers for sports betting during the period. Turnover reached R39.83bn (US$2.43bn), GGR was almost R2bn (US$122.2m) and tax collections reached R129.53m (US$7.9m).
Casinos generated R1.47bn (US$90m) in gross revenue from January to July, with R211.89m (US$13m) going to tax. Machines accounted for R1.23bn (US$75.4m) of the GGR, while table games brought in R232.24m (US$14.2m).
There were 90 casino tables during the period. Machine numbers increased from 3,183 in June to 3,295 in July. Casino revenue for July came to R211.53m (US$12.9m), made up of R179.26m (US$11m) from machines and R32.27m (US$2m) from tables. Tax collected was R30.86m (US$1.9m).
LPMs brought in R506.66m (US$31m) in gross revenue during the seven months and generated R69.84m (US$4.3m) in tax. July was the strongest month in the period, with gross revenue of R77.46m (US$4.7m) and tax of R10.99m (US$672,000) from 2,035 machines.
Horse racing recorded R5.57bn (US$340.3m) in turnover between January and July, with GGR reaching R3.63bn (US$221.8m). The sector generated R217.68m (US$13.3m) in tax.
In July, horse-racing turnover reached R969.88m (US$59.3m). GGR came to R644.50m (US$39.4m) and tax to R38.67m (US$2.4m). Both figures were about 27 per cent higher than in June, when GGR was R505.97m (US$30.9m) and tax was R30.36m (US$1.9m).
