The National Gambling Board (NGB) of South Africa is actively seeking a service provider to oversee the monitoring, blocking, tracking, and reporting of illegal online gambling websites that target South African consumers.
An expression of interest (EOI) was published on June 30, with a subsequent amendment made on July 17. The deadline for submissions has been extended from August 7 to September 4, 2026, following a briefing session held for potential bidders on July 15.
Research conducted by Yield Sec for the South African Bookmakers’ Association (SABA) indicates that approximately 62% of online gambling activities in the country involve illegal operators, resulting in over R50 billion (equivalent to about $3.1 billion) in gross gambling revenue being transferred offshore annually.
During a parliamentary session in June, acting chief executive Lungile Dukwana emphasized that a conclusive national policy regarding interactive gambling has yet to be established. He highlighted the need for South Africa to create a legal framework for online gambling and mentioned ongoing discussions with the National Gambling Policy Council.
In an interview with Business Day TV, Dukwana acknowledged the technical and legal challenges posed by blocking initiatives, but he stated that many believe such actions are overdue. He referred to the procurement as a scoping exercise, aimed at gaining insights into market offerings.
The envisioned service would assess and categorize illegal gambling websites, documenting their country of origin, licensing info, and ownership. The provider would be responsible for blocking identified sites and reporting them to the NGB for law enforcement referral. The service would also track blocked websites to ensure they remain inaccessible.
The NGB justifies this initiative through the National Gambling Act, emphasizing its responsibility to assist provincial licensing authorities in identifying unlicensed gambling operations. According to the board, enhancing blocking capabilities will contribute to combating illegal gambling activities.
Currently, interactive gambling is illegal in South Africa. The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 aimed to create a licensing system for interactive gambling, but it has not yet been implemented. The EOI notes that illegal interactive gambling continues to proliferate despite regulatory prohibitions.
Rather than seeking a singular solution, the NGB's plan aims to establish an ongoing capability to block websites whenever illegal gambling operators attempt to target local bettors. The provider will also transmit relevant data to law enforcement to facilitate punitive actions against these operators.
It's important to note that the EOI does not guarantee any awarded contracts; it simply opens the door for proposals from interested service providers for a future Request for Proposal (RFP) or tender process. The board intends to utilize these submissions to formulate a detailed RFP without imposing obligations on the service providers.
Bidders are required to submit a company profile, a tax clearance certificate if they are domestic entities, along with any pertinent certifications or licenses.
In response to the NGB's plans, the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has raised concerns about the implications of enforcing internet access restrictions for unlicensed gambling sites. They argue that such directives should be framed within a comprehensive legislative structure.
Following the release of the EOI, ISPA published a position paper arguing against administratively enforced blocking of websites. ISPA chair Sasha Booth-Beharilal pointed out that any internet service interruption should be carefully balanced against the right to free communication and the potential negative effects of problematic content.
While acknowledging that some illegal content may need to be blocked, ISPA insists that such measures require a solid legal foundation, judicial oversight, and standards that are not unduly burdensome.
They have questioned the effectiveness of domain or IP-address blocking, pointing out that knowledgeable users can easily bypass such measures. ISPA referenced a European court ruling that affected over half a million unrelated sites due to blocking a few shared IP addresses.
The capacity for this initiative currently remains limited. A written reply from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition indicated that the NGB allocated two resources and R596,000 to identify illegal gambling sites during the 2025/26 financial year.
The board's data reveals that there are 90 illegal gambling websites registered, all of which were operated by overseas companies. The NGB does not directly engage with these operators. Of the ten sites referred to Google Africa for removal from search results in 2024/25, none were deleted by Google's response at the time of the report.
The NGB's annual report noted that 23 of the 90 sites ceased operations following NGB interventions, but gamblers can still access them through various evasive technologies. Dukwana stated that removed sites are often quickly reinstated, which the proposed tracking feature aims to mitigate.
Sean Coleman, chief executive of SABA, supported the procurement but cautioned against overestimating its potential impact. He remarked that while website blocking is necessary, it should not be considered a complete solution, as illegal operators can swiftly create mirror or replacement sites.
The EOI invites bidders to outline required operational conditions, including methodologies, potential partnerships, necessary approvals, and how they plan to address current challenges faced by the NGB. Additionally, bidders are asked to identify potential revenue streams that could sustain the service, seeking a comprehensive understanding from those submitting proposals.
Despite inquiries about the EOI, the NGB declined to provide further comments, indicating that the procurement process is still active. They noted they had already held an information session to ensure all potential bidders had equal access to important details. Further updates will be communicated once the submission process is completed.
