National Gambling Board Launches Online Verification Portal to Purge Unlicensed Operators From South African Market

The National Gambling Board's new portal lists all licensed operators to protect South African players from illegal offshore betting and fraud.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 10:50 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from iGB

A Centralized Registry for Market Integrity

The National Gambling Board (NGB) has officially unveiled a new online verification portal designed to serve as the definitive directory for all licensed gambling entities in South Africa. Launched on Wednesday, the platform provides a searchable database of both land based and online operators that have secured legal authorization from provincial licensing authorities. This initiative is intended to improve transparency for the public, law enforcement, and financial institutions, ensuring that only regulated businesses are permitted to facilitate wagering transactions within the national borders.

Addressing the Surge in Illegal Offshore Betting

The launch comes at a critical time for the South African gambling industry, which has seen a massive 31.3 percent increase in wagering volume, reaching 1.5 trillion Rand in the 2024/2025 financial year. Despite this growth, the South African Bookmakers Association reports that a staggering 62 percent of online gambling traffic is currently directed toward unlicensed offshore sites. By providing a trusted verification resource, the NGB hopes to redirect this consumer flow back into the regulated market, where operators are subject to local oversight and tax obligations.

Strengthening Consumer Protection and Oversight

Acting CEO Lungile Dukwana emphasized that the portal is a vital safeguard against the inherent risks of unregulated gambling. Licensed operators are required to adhere to strict responsible gambling protocols, anti money laundering requirements, and dispute resolution mechanisms that protect the interests of the players. The NGB clarified that the platform does not aim to promote increased gambling but rather to ensure that those who choose to participate for recreation do so in a secure environment where their financial and personal data are protected by law.