A crucial piece of legislation aimed at modernizing South Africa’s gambling regulation has become mired in procedural delays and intergovernmental conflict, raising questions about provincial autonomy, revenue security, and the social impact of an expanding gambling industry.
The National Gambling Amendment Bill, first introduced in 2018, has lapsed twice and now faces renewed resistance from provincial authorities. They warn that the proposed law threatens their constitutional powers, creates costly bureaucratic duplication, and jeopardizes vital income streams.
Gambling addiction has taken a devastating toll across South Africa, disproportionately affecting poor and vulnerable communities. With economic hardship driving many toward the illusion of quick wins, reports indicate that South Africans wager over R1 trillion [$59 billion] annually — R700 billion [$41 billion] of which is spent on sports betting alone.
