South Africa's new Illegal Gambling Task Team carried out its first operations in Modimolle on 4 August and Lephalale on 6 August 2026. The National Gambling Board, provincial regulators and SAPS inspected five suspected illegal gambling sites. All five were posing as internet cafés. Thirteen people were arrested: five players, six site managers and two cashiers. R10,853.10 was seized, according to Casino.com.
The NGB said lessons from these first operations "will help shape similar action as the initiative expands across all nine South African provinces".
Blocking illegal websites
Online, the NGB issued a call on 30 June 2026 for technology to monitor, track, block and report unlawful gambling websites that target South Africans. An amended call followed on 17 July, with submissions due by 4 September, as Casino.com reported. "The identified illegal websites must be blocked to prevent further operations within the country," the NGB said.
A Yield Sec report for the South African Bookmakers' Association estimated that illegal operators handle about 62% of the country's online gambling, with more than R50 billion in gross gambling revenue possibly leaving the country each year.
How to check your operator
In April 2026 the NGB launched a verified operators portal. In its launch statement, the NGB said "only gambling operators listed on the platform are legally authorised to offer gambling services in South Africa". Every operator on our casinos page holds a provincial licence. If a site is not on the NGB list, do not deposit. You can report suspected illegal gambling to the NGB on 010 003 3475 or info@ngb.org.za.