South Africa’s Gauteng province suffers R400 Million losses due to iIllegal gambling

The Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB) has announced a significant crackdown on illegal gambling activities, collaborating closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to confiscate over 790 illegal gambling devices during the 2023/2024 period. 

This ongoing issue has raised alarms as Gauteng is reportedly losing more than R400 million ($22,3 mln) in gross gambling revenues due to these unlawful operations.

In response to the escalating problem, the GGB has launched an awareness campaign aimed at educating communities about illegal gambling and the proper procedures for reporting such activities. The penalties for engaging in illegal gambling are severe, with offenders facing up to 10 years in prison or fines reaching R10 million.

In the previous financial year, the GGB generated R226 million in revenue, slightly below its budgeted target of R228 million. 

Established under the Gauteng Gambling Act of 1995, the GGB is tasked with regulating the gambling industry in a transparent and fair manner, ensuring compliance with legal standards and promoting responsible gambling practices. Prior to August 1996, the only legal gambling forms in Gauteng were limited to horse racing and sports betting. The introduction of the Gauteng Gambling Act expanded legal gambling to include casinos and various betting forms, leading to the formation of the GGB as the regulatory body.