Eastern Cape intercepts 155 illegal gambling machines in Nyandeni as crackdown targets “Chinese roulette” devices

The Eastern Cape Gambling Board says the unlicensed machines were found inside a container allegedly meant for unlawful distribution across the province, before they could reach taverns and small outlets.

Eastern Cape authorities have confiscated 155 unlicensed gambling machines in the Nyandeni Local Municipality, in an operation that regulators say prevents illegal devices from being rolled out into informal venues and unregulated retail points.

According to the Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB), the machines were discovered inside a container allegedly intended for unlawful distribution across the province. Officials believe the devices would have been placed in locations such as taverns and small shops, bypassing licensing controls and consumer protections that apply to regulated gambling.

The ECGB has repeatedly warned that illegal machines, often described locally as “Chinese roulette” devices, undermine licensed operators and expose players to higher harm risks because payouts and game integrity are outside regulatory oversight. The Nyandeni seizure fits a broader enforcement pattern in the province that relies on cooperation between municipalities, gambling regulators and law enforcement to disrupt supply chains before machines are deployed.

For the market, the message is clear: enforcement is shifting upstream toward interception and logistics, not just raiding outlets after the fact—raising compliance pressure on anyone moving or installing unlicensed equipment in the Eastern Cape.