National Treasury has proposed a national tax on online gambling. It published a draft discussion paper for public comment in November 2025. The proposal is a 20% tax on gross gambling revenue from online betting and interactive gambling, charged on top of existing provincial taxes, according to an analysis by Forvis Mazars.
The numbers
- Provincial taxes today: 6% to 9% on online betting, and 10% to 15% on casino gambling.
- With the national tax, operators could face a combined rate of 26% to 29%.
- Online betting made up more than 85% of betting revenue in 2024/25, and the national tax could raise more than R10 billion a year.
Several design questions are still open. Would the tax fall on licensed operators or be withheld per transaction? How would it work alongside provincial taxes? Would it apply to revenue or to turnover?
What it could mean for you
The tax is on operator revenue, not on your winnings. If it goes ahead, the likeliest effect for players is smaller welcome offers and fewer free spins, as operators protect their margins. Forvis Mazars points to Kenya, where operators withdrew and tax revenue fell after a similar 20% levy, and notes the risk of pushing players towards offshore sites. Offshore sites are not licensed in South Africa and give you no legal protection.
The wider context is a fast-growing market. Daily Maverick reports that calls to the National Responsible Gambling Programme helpline rose from 65,000 in 2022/23 to over one million in 2024/25. If gambling has stopped being fun, call 0800 006 008, free, 24 hours a day.