South Africa’s National Gambling Board orders nationwide purge of illegal gambling ads

The National Gambling Board has instructed provincial regulators to immediately remove non-compliant gambling advertisements and conduct full inspections across all media channels, responding to a sharp rise in promotions that appear to breach the National Gambling Act.

South Africa’s National Gambling Board (NGB) has issued a firm directive to all Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs), ordering them to identify and remove gambling advertisements that do not comply with the National Gambling Act, 2004. The communication, dated 1 December 2025 and signed by acting CEO Lungile Dukwana, raises alarm over the “increasing prevalence” of ads that appear to contravene Section 15 of the Act and its regulations.

Under the directive, PLAs must carry out comprehensive inspections of gambling-related advertising across television, radio, billboards, print, online platforms and social media. Where adverts are found to be misleading, unlawful or placed by unlicensed operators, provincial authorities are instructed to order their removal “without delay”. The instruction also covers marketing campaigns run by influencers and brand ambassadors, which the NGB says must meet the same legal standards as operator-made content.

Recent monitoring by the NGB has flagged a surge in adverts that target minors, omit responsible-gambling warnings or dress up inducements as “free” or “discounted” gambling. The Board stresses that such practices directly violate the Act’s restrictions on how gambling activities, devices and premises may be promoted, and warns that repeat non-compliance could result in enforcement action against both operators and media partners.

For licensed operators, the message is clear: all campaigns must strictly align with national and provincial rules on content, placement, audience targeting and responsible-gambling messaging. The crackdown also tightens the net around unlicensed brands seeking to use aggressive advertising to gain market share, reinforcing South Africa’s broader effort to protect vulnerable consumers and bring the advertising environment back in line with the National Gambling Act.