[15 August 2026]
The National Gambling Board (NGB) has invited service providers to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for solutions capable of restricting access to illegal online gambling websites.
Erratum EOI to block illegal online gambling websites and revised EOI
The initiative comes amid increasing concern about the potential social impact of online gambling, particularly as mobile phones have become an increasingly accessible platform for gambling activities.
The closing date for submissions is 4 September 2026. The NGB intends to use the information received through the EOI process to assist in developing a formal request for proposals (RFP).
[2 September 2018]
The National Gambling Amendment Bill [B27-2018] was introduced to the Portfolio Committee for Trade and Industry on August 21, 2018. Of particular interest to Internet service providers and related industries are two new proposed provisions to be added to the National Gambling Act:
- Proposed subsection 8(4) prohibits any person from providing internet services or other technological support for any gambling activities that are not licensed under this Act.
- Proposed subsection 78A(2) mandates that the National Gambling Regulator must notify any internet service provider to cease business with an operator that has been operating in violation of this Act.
National Gambling Amendment Bill 2018
[26 April 2016]
The National Gambling Policy 2016 was issued on April 1, 2016, in accordance with the National Gambling Act of 2004.
The following excerpt pertains to Internet service providers in South Africa:
4.7.4 The NGR must establish and maintain a register of illegal gambling operators to ensure that these operators are barred for at least five (5) years from acquiring a licence. The register will be used to share the information with banks, Internet Service Providers and all other law enforcement agencies to prevent any facilitation of illegal gambling operations. This will ensure that they do not have bank accounts to operate their businesses, no alternative payments modes are used, no local internet domain use to offer illegal gambling. The NGR will be required to share any information of illegal operators with the relevant payment mode operators or any institution that may facilitate illegal gambling in order for them to stop association with such bodies. Any disregard of such notification should attract criminal liability.
Policy Position
…
NGB must work with all affected stakeholders to ensure that there is no facilitation of illegal gambling either in terms of financial transactions or illegal gambling online sites.