On Monday South Africa’s National Gambling Board (NGB) addressed concerns regarding the newly launched Verified Gambling Operators web portal, which centralises information about licensed gambling operators across the country.
This follows criticism about certain entries on the portal being flagged as “CLOSED”, which has led to confusion over whether some operators are operting illegally in the market. There was also claims that some licensed online operators were missing from the register.
Introduced earlier this year, the portal is accessible via the NGB website and compiles data from all nine Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs) across the country.
According to acting CEO Lungile Dukwana, it represents South Africa’s first comprehensive attempt to display both land-based and certain online gambling licences in a single location.
“This platform is a critical step in safeguarding South Africans from the dangers posed by illegal gambling,” Dukwana stated at the time of the portal’s launch.
He encouraged public use of the tool for verifying operators and urged reporting of any suspicious or potentially unlawful gambling activities through either the NGB or the relevant PLA.
“The portal is the first initiative of its kind in South Africa,” the NGB emphasised in its media statement on Monday.
Addressing criticism: “CLOSED” listings and online operators
“Recent commentary”, the NGB said, questioned the portal’s accuracy soon after its launch. Some entries were marked as “CLOSED”, especially for Limited Payout Machine (LPM) sites, which raised concerns that such operators may be unlawfully operating or defunct. Others pointed to perceived absences of online gambling operators on the platform.
The NGB clarified that the “CLOSED” status does not inherently indicate illicit activity. Possible explanations included temporary renovations, a pause in trading, unpaid fees, or contractual disputes between operators and route managers.
The board cautioned the public and industry players against drawing hasty conclusions that such entries reflected regulatory failures.
Regarding online operators, the NGB dismissed suggestions that the omission of certain providers resulted from the pending Remote Gambling Bill B11‑2024.
It reiterated that current regulation arises from the National Gambling Act 2004 and respective provincial statutes rather than draft legislation. The register does currently include licensed bookmakers authorised by provinces to offer online sports betting within the existing legal framework.
The portal aggregates data from six provincial systems, posing practical challenges around data completeness, consistency and timeliness.
The NGB acknowledged these constraints and pledged ongoing collaboration with PLAs to enhance data quality and reporting processes. Some “CLOSED” entries, for instance, currently lack explanatory notes, complicating compliance evaluations for commercial stakeholders.
The NGB has invited feedback from stakeholders to improve the portal’s usefulness and accuracy.
South Africa’s tax takes a hike
South Africa’s gambling landscape is complex. While provincial authorities license and oversee land-based betting and casinos, internet gambling regulation remains a contested and evolving area.
A recent Gauteng High Court ruling reaffirmed that iGaming remained illegal under current national law. It highlighted inconsistencies in provincial enforcement and the growing gap between legislation and digital market realities.
The scrutiny surrounding licensing and compliance also comes as South Africa’s gambling sector faces mounting financial pressure from proposed tax increases.
Earlier this year, industry stakeholders warned that planned VAT hikes on gambling services, combined with higher provincial gambling taxes in some regions, could place additional strain on licensed operators.
Sean Coleman, the chief executive officer of the South African Bookmakers Association (SABA) estimated to iGB that with levies included, the tax for local operators will rise to 39%. This could make South Africa’s gambling industry one of the world’s most heavily taxed.
Operators have argued that heavier tax burdens risk pushing consumers toward unlicensed providers. This could potentially undermine regulatory oversight and reduce the competitiveness of the legal market.
The Free Market Foundation (FMF) hit back at the tax hike, noting it “would be largely unenforceable against online casinos”.
The spokesperson added that it “would disproportionately burden licensed bookmakers, which already contribute substantial taxes to provincial regulators”.
Kathryn Evans
Kathryn covers bitesize breaking news with a primary focus on EMEA and US legislation. A proud North Walian, fluent Welsh speaker and lifelong Wrexham FC fan – long before Hollywood came calling.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/south-africas-ngb-hits-back-concerns-over-operator-web-portal/
