Game Over: South Africa reasserts its ban on online gambling

Despite the growth of digital betting platforms, South African law has not opened the door to online casino-style games, which remain unlawful in the absence of express legislative approval.

This means online roulette, slots, blackjack, and similar games remain prohibited, whereas licensed bookmakers may only offer online wagers linked to real world sporting or racing events. Courts have rejected arguments by operators to frame online casino games as mere “bets on outcomes”, a position confirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Portapa (Pty) Ltd t/a Supabets v Casino Association of South Africa; Gauteng Gambling Board v Casino Association of South Africa, which held that such offerings still amount to interactive casino gambling.

The SCA confirmed that bookmakers may not offer fixed odds bets on roulette, as roulette is a casino game, not a sporting event, and presenting such bets as wagers on livestreamed spins does not change the fact that they constitute unlawful interactive casino gambling. The SCA made it clear that “contingency bets” cannot be used to mask casino games, as such contingencies must relate to real world events, not virtual outcomes.

The National Gambling Board (NGB) reinforced this position on 27 February 2026, making it clear that, until new legislation is enacted, online casino gambling will continue to be treated as illegal nationwide.The NGB stressed that online casino offerings have never been legal in South Africa and warned that this will remain the case until Parliament enacts a comprehensive framework for remote gambling. As part of this tightening of enforcement, regulators have also turned their focus to the technical systems enabling illegal online casinos. Attention has also shifted to the technology underpinning online casinos, with The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) concluding that remote gambling servers do not comply with existing laws.

Operators who persist in offering online casino games now face shutdowns and licence withdrawals, while players risk the confiscation of winnings and penalties for participation. Sports betting remains legal, but only when limited to real world events.