South Africa’s National Gambling Board said it launched an online directory for checking whether gambling operators are licensed in the country. The board said the list covers land-based and online operators and is regularly updated, and that it is intended to support public verification and enforcement against illegal gambling.
Operators and consumers can use the directory to check licensing status in South Africa.
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South Africa’s National Gambling Board warned the public on 1 June about illegal gambling platforms and fake betting applications targeting consumers ahead of the 2026 Soccer World Cup. Acting chief executive Lungile Dukwana said scammers use social media, messaging services and unofficial apps, and may demand extra payments when users try to withdraw purported winnings. The NGB urged consumers to verify provincial licences and avoid upfront withdrawal fees.
South Africa’s National Gambling Board addressed concerns about its portal listing licensed gambling operators, including entries marked “CLOSED” and online operators said to be missing. The NGB said that status does not by itself indicate unlawful activity, and acknowledged challenges with the completeness, consistency and timeliness of data supplied by provincial licensing authorities.
South Africa’s National Gambling Board launched an online register of licensed land-based and online gambling operators, developed with provincial licensing authorities. The NGB said the public database will be updated continuously and is intended to help consumers and authorities verify which operators are authorised.
South Africa’s National Gambling Board is engaging overseas regulators to address offshore gambling platforms targeting local customers without domestic approval. The board estimates unlicensed activity at up to R5 trillion, compared with about R75 billion in turnover for licensed online operators over the past year. It has also proposed policy discussions on online gambling, betting exchanges and tracing historical losses.
South Africa's National Gambling Board warned of an increase in illegal online gambling platforms and counterfeit betting apps targeting punters ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Acting CEO Lungile Dukwana said the operators reach victims through Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS links and apps from outside official stores. The NGB urged consumers to check licensed operators and bet cautiously during the tournament.