In an interview with iGB, Sean Coleman, CEO of the Association of South African Bookmakers (SABA), clarified recent comments regarding the enforcement measures against illegal online gambling in South Africa. Coleman stated, "At this stage, it remains largely within the advocacy and stakeholder engagement phase," indicating that their published statement aimed to contribute to an essential national policy discussion but did not imply that legislative changes were imminent.
He emphasized that South Africa faces a significant challenge due to what SABA considers a "lack of laws that enable effective enforcement" rather than an absence of laws against illegal online gambling.
In July, SABA proposed six legislative reforms targeting the National Gambling Act, the Electronic Communications Act, the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, and called for coordinated actions from the Reserve Bank and other regulatory bodies. According to a report from Yield Sec, commissioned by SABA, illegal operators are responsible for approximately 62% of online gambling in South Africa, diverting over R50 billion in gross gambling revenue offshore annually, with around 16 million South Africans engaging with these illegal platforms in the past year.
Coleman noted that the extensive nature of the proposed reforms would necessitate a coordinated approach. "Our proposals touch on gambling regulation, electronic communications, payment systems and financial intelligence legislation, which means that a coordinated approach will ultimately be required," he said.
SABA views positively the National Gambling Board's (NGB) recent call for expressions of interest from service providers capable of monitoring and blocking illegal gambling websites, published on June 30, with submissions due by August 7, 2026. However, Coleman mentioned that SABA has not received any additional information about the procurement process beyond what has been publicly tendered.
He explained, "Our understanding is that the National Gambling Board has commenced a procurement process for specialized services aimed at strengthening its capabilities in identifying and responding to illegal online gambling activities." Coleman added that there are currently no specific operational timelines or implementation details available.
Coleman stated that this move indicates a growing awareness of the role technology can play in combating illegal gambling. "What is encouraging is that this reflects an acknowledgment that technology must form part of any meaningful enforcement strategy," he explained, cautioning that manual enforcement methods may not be sufficient. He pointed out, "SABA has consistently advocated for a multi-layered approach that combines technology, legislation and coordinated enforcement. Website blocking, while important, should not be viewed as a silver bullet."
The dialogue between SABA and the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) remains limited since SABA’s July statement, which addressed ISPA's position paper on July 2 suggesting clear legislative frameworks for disrupting internet services. Coleman stated that he was not aware of any direct responses from ISPA since. He emphasized that ISPs should not be solely responsible for addressing illegal gambling, advocating for a framework that includes multiple stakeholders in enforcement.
SABA’s latest communication also compared South Africa’s gambling enforcement issues to those of Australia’s 2017 reform of the Interactive Gambling Act, which successfully blocked over 1,300 websites. Coleman identified the complexity of South Africa’s regulatory system as a significant difference, noting, "Gambling regulation is a concurrent competence in South Africa," which complicates enforcement due to nine provincial licensing frameworks.
Illegal operators have also adapted their services to local preferences, making them more appealing to consumers through local language support and aggressive marketing. Coleman highlighted the socio-economic vulnerabilities that make consumers susceptible to gambling narratives, stressing the need for consumer education to mitigate these risks.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by cross-border payment systems and evolving technologies that allow illegal operators to shift their services quickly. Coleman argued that an effective consumer protection strategy would involve making illegal gambling platforms less accessible and enhancing consumer knowledge of the associated risks.
When asked about his top priority among the proposed interventions, Coleman identified the urgent need for a mechanism to disrupt access to illegal platforms through technological enforcement. He recommended this approach be backed by a public register of licensed operators and a robust consumer awareness campaign.
Coleman underscored that immediate action is essential to reduce consumer exposure to unregulated gambling, stating, "Every day South African consumers are being directed towards illegal operators that provide none of the protections associated with regulated gambling."
Finally, he firmly stated that SABA’s focus should not be misconstrued as a move to protect licensed operators from competition but rather as a means to ensure consumer safety within a regulated framework. Coleman concluded, "If consumers are gambling, they should do so within a regulated environment that provides responsible gambling safeguards and operates under South African law."
