The National Gambling Board (NGB) is seeking a service provider to help monitor, block, and report illegal online gambling websites that target South African consumers. This effort, aimed at protecting consumers and ensuring compliance with local laws, reflects the seriousness of the illegal online gambling market, which is believed to account for approximately 62% of gambling activity in the country according to research commissioned by the South African Bookmakers’ Association (SABA). Yield Sec estimates that over R50 billion (about $3.1 billion) in gross gambling revenue goes offshore annually, underscoring the need for such measures.
The Expression of Interest (EOI) for potential service providers was originally published on June 30 and was modified on July 17 when the closing date was postponed from August 7 to September 4, 2026, following a briefing for interested bidders on July 15. In parliament, acting chief executive Lungile Dukwana clarified that no national policy on interactive gambling has been finalized yet, noting that South Africa must establish a legal framework for online gambling. Engagements with the National Gambling Policy Council are ongoing on this matter.
Dukwana expressed that while blocking illegal gambling sites raises both technical and legal concerns, such measures are overdue. He described the procurement process as a means to explore existing solutions in the market for effectively combating illegal online gambling.
The envisioned service aims to monitor and profile illegal gambling websites, identifying their origins, licensing status, and ownership. This provider would be responsible for blocking these sites and reporting them to the NGB for law enforcement action, as well as tracking the efficacy of these blocks to prevent resurgence.
The NGB validates its initiative through the National Gambling Act, asserting its obligation to help provincial licensing authorities identify unlicensed gambling operations. They contend that developing a capability to block these websites will be instrumental in reducing illegal gambling.
Interactive gambling remains illegal in South Africa; although the National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 aimed to create a licensing framework for it, that framework has yet to be implemented. The EOI highlights how illegal interactive gambling continues to proliferate without consequence despite existing prohibitions.
Unlike a one-time crackdown, the NGB envisions ongoing capability to block illegal gambling sites as they emerge. The provider would instruct law enforcement on actions to take against these operators.
However, the EOI is non-committal about awarding contracts and merely seeks proposals from providers interested in potentially participating in later Request for Proposals (RFPs) or Tender processes. The NGB intends to use the submissions to inform future proposals without obligation to the service providers.
In a response to the rising concerns around such measures, the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has formally opposed the idea of mandated blocking of gambling websites. They assert that such actions should only take place within a defined legislative framework that balances communication rights against potential harms of problematic content. ISPA chair Sasha Booth-Beharilal reiterated the necessity for legal clarity, judicial oversight, and defined time frames for any disruption to internet services.
ISPA acknowledged that certain illegal content may need to be blocked, but they expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of blocking in practice, as technically savvy users often find ways around these restrictions. They cited instances of broad IP-address blocking affecting a vast number of unrelated sites in Europe, further voicing concerns over deep packet inspection methods typically used in repressive regimes.
The NGB currently operates with limited resources, having allocated only two positions and R596,000 for identifying illegal gambling sites in the 2025/26 financial year. Its database lists approximately 90 illegal gambling websites, all operated by foreign companies. Despite attempting to have ten sites removed from Google Africa search results in the preceding year, none were taken down at that time.
Dukwana emphasized that back-end support from Google and Meta does not yield lasting results, as sites quickly reappear. The tracking component proposed in the EOI is designed to counteract this shortcoming.
While welcoming the procurement initiative, SABA’s chief executive, Sean Coleman, urged that blocking alone should not be seen as a definitive solution. He cautioned that illegal gambling operators could quickly create new sites to replace blocked ones.
Bidders are required to submit a comprehensive company profile, tax clearance certificates (if they are domestic), and any relevant licenses or certifications. The EOI also solicits suggestions on methodologies, potential partnerships, required approvals, and strategies for overcoming current NGB challenges, as well as identifying potential revenue streams to sustain operations.
The NGB declined to comment more thoroughly on the EOI process, stating it remains active and that additional insights will be communicated once the submission period has closed. The organization aims to ensure fair access to information among all prospective bidders and to uphold the integrity of the procurement process.
