NGB defends Verified Gambling Operators portal rollout
South Africa’s National Gambling Board has pushed back against criticism of its newly launched Verified Gambling Operators portal, defending the accuracy of the platform after commentary questioned the status of some listed gambling venues and the absence of broader online gambling operators.
In a media response issued this week, the NGB said the portal remained an important consumer protection tool designed to help the public identify operators licensed within South Africa’s gambling framework.
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The regulator specifically addressed criticism surrounding venues listed as “CLOSED” on the portal, stating that this “does not necessarily mean that unlawful gambling activity is taking place” and may instead reflect operational issues such as renovations, disputes, non-payment of fees or temporary business closures.
“Accordingly, it is incorrect to assume that the mere appearance of the word ‘CLOSED’ indicates regulatory failure,” the NGB said.
The board also rejected suggestions that the register contains “zero online gambling operators”, clarifying that licensed betting sites authorised to offer online sports betting are included on the platform.
The NGB further criticised references linking the issue to South Africa’s proposed Remote Gambling Bill, stating gambling regulation remains governed by existing national and provincial legislation, not proposed laws that “have not been enacted into law”.
The verified gambling operators portal was launched earlier this year as part of broader efforts to combat illegal gambling and improve transparency across the country’s fragmented provincial licensing system.
