Sean Coleman, CEO of the Association of South African Bookmakers (SABA), recently clarified his earlier remarks regarding the enforcement of laws against illegal gambling in South Africa. He stated, "At this stage, it remains largely within the advocacy and stakeholder engagement phase." Coleman emphasized that SABA's goal was to contribute positively to what he considers a crucial national policy discussion, not to imply that legislative changes were on the verge of happening.
His comments highlight SABA's perspective that the issue lies not in a shortage of laws against illegal online gambling, but rather in a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. In July, SABA outlined six potential legislative changes that would aim to amend various laws including the National Gambling Act, the Electronic Communications Act, and the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, along with calls for coordinated efforts 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 all online gambling in the country, leading to more than R50 billion in gross gambling revenue being lost offshore annually, with around 16 million South Africans interacting with these illegal platforms in the past year.
Coleman pointed out that addressing this issue requires a cooperative approach due to the extensive nature of the proposed reforms. "Our proposals touch on gambling regulation, electronic communications, payment systems, and financial intelligence legislation," he noted, indicating that a unified approach is essential.
A recent development that SABA views as progress is the National Gambling Board's (NGB) request for expressions of interest from service providers capable of monitoring, blocking, and reporting illegal gambling websites. This announcement was published on June 30, with submissions due by August 7, 2026. Nevertheless, Coleman indicated that SABA had yet to receive further details regarding the procurement process.
Coleman acknowledged the growing recognition of technology's role in combating illegal gambling, saying, "What is encouraging is that this reflects an acknowledgment that technology must form part of any meaningful enforcement strategy." He warned, however, that technology should not be seen as the sole solution. "SABA has consistently advocated for a multi-layered approach that combines technology, legislation, and coordinated enforcement," he clarified.
Referring to recent communications from the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), which suggested that internet service disruptions should be guided by a clear legislative framework, Coleman remarked that SABA has not received any direct follow-up from ISPA since their statement. He maintained that ISPs should not be seen as the only parties responsible for addressing illegal gambling, stressing the need for a comprehensive enforcement framework involving various stakeholders.
Coleman further explained that South Africa’s regulatory landscape complicates efforts against illegal gambling, pointing out the country’s concurrent competence in gambling regulation across nine provinces, unlike other nations that benefit from a centralized authority. Additionally, he noted that illegal operators have localized their services to appeal to South African consumers, which, combined with prevailing socio-economic challenges, makes regulation more complex.
When asked to prioritize interventions, Coleman hesitated to single out any one measure as sufficient. However, he identified the establishment of a robust mechanism to disrupt access to illegal gambling platforms as a critical starting point. He argued, "Immediate action was needed to reduce consumer exposure while wider reforms were developed," stressing the necessity of various coordinated efforts working together.
Coleman firmly asserted that SABA’s advocacy is not about creating a competitive edge for licensed operators. "It is about ensuring that South African consumers receive the protections parliament intended when it created our regulated gambling framework," he stated, underscoring the importance of regulated environments that offer consumer safeguards and adhere to local laws.
