South African Regulator Introduces Online Verification Platform for Legal Gambling Operators

(AsiaGameHub) –   To better educate and protect players about legal and regulated gambling activities in South Africa, the National Gambling Board (NGB) launched a new online verification portal on Wednesday in partnership with all South African gambling operators that hold valid licenses under South African gambling laws.

As part of an ongoing initiative to tackle illegal and unauthorised gambling, the NGB’s goal is to give players a way to confirm whether an operator is authorised and regulated to operate legally within South Africa.

The verification portal was developed jointly by the NGB and provincial licensing authorities (PLAs), and provides a searchable register of all legally licensed land-based and online gambling operators in South Africa.

Acting CEO of the NGB, Lungile Dukwana, stated:

This platform is a critical step in protecting South Africans from the risks posed by illegal gambling. It provides the public with a trusted resource to verify licensed gambling operators, ensures that those who choose to gamble can do so in a safe, regulated environment, and strengthens oversight and accountability within the gambling industry.

According to the NGB, in FY 2024/25, South African players wagered a total of R1.5 trillion (approximately US$89-billion) across all types of legal gambling, marking a 31.3% increase compared to FY 2023/24.

In addition, the rapid growth of cross-border online gambling and offshore betting sites that target South African players without proper South African authorization has made it difficult for local regulators to keep up with the pace of regulatory change.

Regulatory challenges for South African regulators stemming from illegal and unlicensed offshore and online gambling operators continue to be a serious impediment to the country’s regulated gambling marketplace. The South African Bookmakers Association (SABA) recently reported that 62% of total online gambling activity by South African players takes place on unlicensed gambling sites.

The NGB’s verification portal aims to help players gain a better understanding of South Africa’s legal and regulated gambling industry, while encouraging players to verify an operator’s legitimacy and legality before placing any bets.