South Africa Faces Challenges in Tackling Online Gambling, with Just 39 Arrests Made in Five Years
Illegal Online Gambling in South Africa Raises Alarms Amid Low Arrest Rate
South African lawmakers are voicing growing concerns over the rise of illegal online gambling, as new data reveals a startling lack of enforcement.
In a recent parliamentary response, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu disclosed that only 39 arrests related to illegal online gambling have been made over the past five financial years. The revelation came in response to questions from Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi, who sought clarity on the police’s efforts to curb the issue.
Over 1,000 Illegal Gambling Sites Accessible Despite Ban
Under the National Gambling Act of 2004, interactive (online) gambling is strictly prohibited. These include games played through electronic platforms accessible over the internet.
However, Mchunu acknowledged that South Africans can currently access over 1,000 illegal gambling websites—highlighting a major enforcement gap. Only 36 cases have been formally reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS), leading to the 39 arrests.
Most Arrests Concentrated in KwaZulu-Natal
A breakdown of the arrests shows:
- 20 took place in KwaZulu-Natal
- The rest were in Gauteng, where the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, handled 13 arrests
Despite the arrests, only 22 led to convictions, while many cases were dismissed in court. In some cases, search warrants were challenged in the High Court, resulting in seized evidence being returned to the accused.
Online Gambling Hard to Track, Says Minister
Minister Mchunu pointed to the transient nature of online gambling sites as a major challenge. These platforms can be quickly created and taken down, making enforcement difficult.
He also noted that online gambling cases represent just 0.1% of all gambling-related incidents, compared to over 32,900 land-based illegal gambling cases during the same period.
Legislative Vacuum Stalls Progress
South Africa’s inability to enforce stricter online gambling laws stems largely from a lack of updated legislation. Although the National Gambling Amendment Act was signed into law by former President Thabo Mbeki in 2008, it was never enacted. The Act aimed to regulate interactive gambling platforms.
In the most recent effort, the Democratic Alliance (DA) introduced the Remote Gambling Bill just before the 2024 general election. The bill sought to regulate online gambling advertising and protect minors and vulnerable individuals.
According to Dean MacPherson, now Minister of Public Works, the bill took two years to draft and proposed that provinces, not the National Gambling Board, should issue gambling licenses.
“The lack of regulation encourages criminal activity and undermines the rule of law. It also leaves the public unprotected in a way that would never be tolerated in land-based gambling,” said MacPherson.
A similar bill introduced in 2015 by Geordin Hill-Lewis—now mayor of Cape Town—also failed to gain traction.
Author – Chidubem for iGamingToday and original article can be found here.
