The National Gambling Board (NGB) of South Africa is seeking a service provider to help monitor, block, track, and report on illegal online gambling sites that seek to exploit South African consumers.
An expression of interest (EOI) was published on June 30, with amendments made on July 17 that extended the deadline from August 7 to September 4, 2026. This change followed a briefing for potential bidders held on July 15.
The illegal gambling market targeted by this initiative is significant. Research by Yield Sec, commissioned by the South African Bookmakers' Association (SABA), indicates that around 62% of online gambling activity in South Africa is driven by illegal operators. The research also highlights that over R50 billion ($3.1 billion) in gross gambling revenue leaves the country annually.
During a session with Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry, and Competition in June, acting chief executive Lungile Dukwana stated that South Africa has not yet established a national policy on interactive gambling and must develop a legal framework for it. The board is currently working with the National Gambling Policy Council on this matter.
In an interview with Business Day TV, Dukwana acknowledged that while blocking illegal sites raises both technical and legal concerns, many believe it is a necessary action. He framed the procurement as a scoping exercise to better understand the market landscape.
The intended service would involve profiling illegal gambling sites aimed at South African users, including information about their origin, licensing status, and ownership. The provider would block these identified sites and report them to the NGB for further law enforcement action, ensuring that reappearing sites are promptly blocked again.
The initiative is rooted in the National Gambling Act, which outlines the NGB's responsibility to assist provincial authorities in identifying unlicensed gambling. The board emphasizes that establishing the ability to block these sites is essential for curbing illegal gambling activities. Currently, interactive gambling is illegal in South Africa, following the 2008 National Gambling Amendment Act, which aimed to create a licensing regime for such activities but never materialized.
The EOI reflects the NGB's concerns regarding the unchecked growth of illegal interactive gambling, which continues "with impunity to the express prohibition."
Rather than seeking a one-time clearing of illegal sites, the NGB envisions an ongoing capability that permits blocking of such operators each time they attempt to reach local consumers. The resulting data would be shared with law enforcement for further action against these operators.
The EOI does not guarantee a contract; it is a call for proposals from providers interested in possibly participating in a subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP) or Tender process. The board intends to utilize the submissions only to shape the specifications for future tenders without any binding obligations.
As part of the initial submission, bidders must provide a company profile, a tax clearance certificate if they are not an international entity, and any pertinent certifications or licenses.
The Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) has expressed opposition to the concept of blocking unlicensed gambling websites without a clear legislative framework. Following the EOI, ISPA released a position paper asserting that any disruption of internet access should occur only within the confines of a legislative guideline that considers the rights of citizens and the potential risks associated with problematic content.
ISPA acknowledges that blocking illegal content may sometimes be necessary but emphasizes the need for a robust legal basis, judicial oversight, and time-limited mandates for any blocking initiatives.
The association raised doubts about the effectiveness of website blocking, noting that users with technical skills can find ways around such measures. They also highlighted a case in Europe where blocking a limited number of shared IP addresses inadvertently affected numerous unrelated sites.
On the issue of operational capacity, in a written response to the National Assembly, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition reported that the NGB had allocated just two personnel and R596,000 for identifying illegal gambling websites in the 2025/26 financial year. The current NGB database lists 90 illegal gambling sites, all of which are operated by overseas companies.
The Ministry clarified that the NGB does not engage directly with the operators. Of the ten websites referred to Google Africa for removal from search results for the 2024/25 period, none had been taken down as of the minister's response. Although 23 of the 90 blocked their sites following NGB intervention, users could still access them through various evasion technologies.
Dukwana indicated that even sites deleted with Google's and Meta’s help often resurface quickly. The tracking feature outlined in the EOI aims to counter this issue, as he noted that sites frequently reemerged shortly after being taken down.
SABA's CEO, Sean Coleman, welcomed the NGB's procurement initiative but cautioned that it shouldn’t be viewed as a standalone solution. "Website blocking, while important, should not be regarded as a silver bullet," he warned, emphasizing that illegal operators can swiftly create new mirror sites to evade detection.
The EOI also details the expectations from bidders regarding the service’s operation. They are required to specify their methodologies, identify relevant partners, detail necessary approvals and consents, and outline strategies to address the challenges the NGB currently faces. Additionally, the bidders must identify potential revenue streams and explain how these could facilitate sustainable service delivery, all while understanding that submission does not guarantee a contract.
The NGB chose not to respond to specific inquiries about the EOI, citing an active procurement process with pending submissions. "The raised matters relate closely to an ongoing Expression of Interest process," the NGB stated, mentioning it held an information session for potential bidders to ensure equal access to information. They indicated that detailed communications regarding the process and future steps would be shared once the EOI submission phase concludes.
