Speaking during a presentation to Parliament\u2019s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition on June 24, NGB acting chief executive Lungile Dukwana <\/strong>said Google had been forthcoming in addressing online advertising linked to illegal gambling websites, while Meta was also assisting the regulator’s enforcement efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dukwana said the National Gambling Act<\/strong> prohibits interactive gambling, making it the board\u2019s responsibility to act against illegal operators. He noted that illegal gambling remained one of the regulator\u2019s biggest challenges, particularly with offshore operators offering online casino products to South African customers from jurisdictions outside the country\u2019s regulatory framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dukwana, many of the operators targeting South African consumers hold licences in jurisdictions including Gibraltar, the Philippines, the UK and Malta, but are not authorised to provide gambling services in South Africa. The board said it has sent cease-and-desist letters to offending operators and is engaging with foreign authorities in jurisdictions such as Gibraltar and the Philippines to stop their licensees from targeting the South African market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NGB is also working with the South African Police Service (SAPS)<\/strong>, provincial regulators, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)<\/strong> and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to strengthen enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the measures under consideration is the introduction of IP blocking to prevent users from accessing illegal gambling websites. The regulator also said it is developing a national website-blocking system aimed at identifying and restricting unauthorised gambling platforms operating within South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the challenge posed by illegal operators, Dukwana said the country\u2019s regulated gambling industry has continued to expand. Gross gambling revenue recorded annual growth rates of 25.7 per cent, 25.6 per cent and 13.2 per cent between the 2022\/23 and 2025\/26 financial years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Online betting accounted for most of the increase, with revenue rising from R23.7bn (\u20ac1.26bn) in 2022\/23 to R62.1bn (\u20ac3.30bn) in 2025\/26. Casino gambling revenue, meanwhile, remained relatively stable during the period, generating between R16bn (\u20ac852m) and R17bn (\u20ac905.2m) annually.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Arrest-300x200.jpg\")
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