National Gambling Board instructs Provincial Licensing Authorities to intensify monitoring, enforce stricter penalties, and report quarterly amid rising cases of misleading and harmful gambling promotions.
The National Gambling Board (NGB) has issued a strong directive to all Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs), urging immediate, coordinated intervention to address the rapid spread of unlawful gambling advertising across South Africa. The notice, dated 1 December 2025 and signed by Acting Chief Executive Officer Lungile Dukwana, signals growing concern within the regulatory body over marketing practices that increasingly violate the National Gambling Act of 2004 and its associated regulations.
According to the NGB, ongoing monitoring has revealed a marked increase in advertising content that misleads consumers, targets minors, or fails to include mandatory responsible gambling messages.
The Board also flagged the rise of promotions that disguise inducements as “free” or “discounted” gambling opportunities, tactics regulators say are intentionally crafted to encourage risky behaviour.
Such practices directly contravene section 15 of the National Gambling Act, which sets clear standards for how gambling operators may promote products, devices, and venues to the public.
The legislation expressly prohibits any advertising that is deceptive, unlawful, or directed at vulnerable individuals, including minors and individuals listed on the national self-exclusion register.
In its directive, the NGB emphasized the need for uniform enforcement across all provinces to prevent regulatory loopholes and strengthen consumer protection. As part of this renewed compliance push, each PLA will be required to complete and submit a comprehensive report to the NGB within 30 days of receiving the designated reporting template.
Thereafter, PLAs must provide quarterly updates detailing enforcement activities.
These reports must outline the types and number of non-compliant advertisements identified, the platforms or locations where they appeared, and the specific actions taken to remove them. Regulators must also document any sanctions imposed on operators, as well as broader preventative measures implemented to discourage recurring violations.
The NGB says the directive is intended to reinforce accountability, improve consistency in regulatory oversight, and ensure that gambling advertising across South Africa adheres to legal and ethical standards.
By tightening compliance requirements and demanding more transparent reporting, the Board hopes to curb harmful promotions and safeguard vulnerable communities from exploitative marketing practices.
