South Africa regulator eyes illegal gambling site blocks
South Africa has taken its first formal step towards blocking illegal online gambling websites, with the National Gambling Board seeking technology providers capable of monitoring, tracking and disrupting offshore operators targeting local players.
The NGB has issued a revised Expression of Interest inviting qualified companies to propose a system that would identify unlicensed gambling websites, block access from within South Africa and collect intelligence that could support further enforcement action.
The regulator said South Africa was facing serious difficulties combating illegal interactive gambling (which includes online casinos and betting sites) because many of the operators were based in foreign jurisdictions and beyond the immediate reach of local authorities.
Under the proposed system, service providers would be required to monitor traffic from gambling websites targeting South Africans and profile the operators, including identifying their country of origin, licensing status and ownership information.
Websites found to be offering illegal gambling would then be blocked, while information collected about the operators would be reported to the NGB and shared with law-enforcement agencies.
The system would also continuously track blocked websites to identify operators that return under new domains or reintroduce their services after an initial block.
The NGB said the objective was to protect South Africa’s regulated gambling industry and the public from exploitation by illegal gambling markets. They said website would be blocked to South Africans when they target local punters, with information gathered used to prosecute and pursue penalties under the National Gambling Act.
The regulator argues that illegal online gambling has expanded rapidly due to technological advances, policy gaps and organised criminal activity. It said offshore sites were also using digital wallets, cryptocurrencies and cross-border structures to avoid detection and regulatory oversight.
South African law prohibits unauthorised interactive gambling, while the NGB is empowered to assist provincial licensing authorities in detecting and suppressing unlicensed gambling activities.
The latest initiative could see South Africa adopt an enforcement model already used in several regulated gambling jurisdictions.
Australia has operated one of the most extensive gambling website-blocking regimes since November 2019, when the Australian Communications and Media Authority began asking internet service providers to restrict access to illegal offshore gambling sites.
As of July 2026, Australian internet providers had blocked 1,774 illegal gambling and affiliate websites at the request of the ACMA. More than 230 illegal gambling services have also withdrawn from the Australian gambling market since the regulator began enforcing strengthened offshore gambling rules in 2017.
Website blocking is not Australia’s only enforcement measure, but the ACMA uses it to disrupt operators that continue serving Australian players despite breaching the Interactive Gambling Act.
The Australian system has also had to respond to operators creating alternative domains designed to circumvent existing blocks, highlighting the importance of the continuous tracking capability being sought by the South African regulator.
Denmark also maintains an active blocking regime. The Danish Gambling Authority secured court orders to block 334 illegal gambling websites during 2025, following earlier rounds of enforcement against operators offering betting and online casino products without a Danish licence.
Despite these measures, Australian and Danish residents can still access offshore gambling websites, with the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) skyrocketing in places like this. This VPN use has been supercharged by Australia’s ban on social media for 16s, with both of these highlighting just how hard it is to block websites.
The NGB has asked prospective providers to study systems used in foreign jurisdictions and explain how international models could be adapted for South Africa. Companies must also identify any potential revenue streams that could help fund or sustain the proposed service.
Providers invited into the process may be required to demonstrate how their technology would block websites and explain which stakeholders, regulatory approvals and partnerships would be needed to operate in South Africa.
The current process does not mean gambling sites will be blocked immediately. The EOI is intended to identify suitable technology and suppliers before a possible Request for Proposal or formal tender process.
The NGB said it would use the information submitted to develop specifications for any future procurement process and reserved the right to issue a formal request for proposals.
Submissions under the revised EOI close on September 4, 2026 at 12pm CAT.
