North West regulators launch joint campaign against illegal gambling and liquor misuse ahead of “Back to Basics” workshop

The North West Gambling Board and the North West Liquor Board have kicked off a coordinated community programme that links illegal gambling enforcement with action on unlawful liquor outlets, starting with outreach at a local school in Moses Kotane municipality.

The North West Gambling Board (NWGB) and the North West Liquor Board have launched a joint “activation” programme aimed at tackling illegal gambling and liquor misuse in communities, positioning it as a build-up initiative ahead of an upcoming Back to Basics workshop.

NWGB’s communications around the rollout show the programme starting on 9 February 2026 at Ratheo Primary School in Bakubung, within the Moses Kotane Local Municipality, reflecting a focus on early intervention and local awareness alongside compliance work.

The outreach is framed as part of a wider illegal gambling awareness drive aligned with the Board’s broader Back to Basics programme, with messaging that ties together gambling harm risks, underage exposure concerns, and the role of illegal liquor outlets in community-level harm.

For operators and venue owners, the joint approach is a reminder that provincial enforcement is increasingly holistic: gambling compliance and liquor compliance are being treated as connected risks, and community-facing campaigns can quickly translate into more inspections and tighter scrutiny of on-the-ground practices.