Gauteng takes the lead in taxing online gambling in South Africa
As South Africa’s landmark gambling bills continue to await their next steps, the Gauteng province has decided to take matters into its own hands by planning to tax online gambling. This move illustrates the growing impatience among provinces as national legislation stalls.
The current state of national gambling bills
The Remote Gambling Bill, sponsored by the Democratic Alliance’s Toby Chance MP, aims to regulate online gambling across the country. However, it remains stuck, waiting to be tabled before the DTIC Portfolio Committee. Chance has noted that the bill’s progress is slow, and it could take up to two years to pass. Despite this, he believes there is a “growing appetite” to regulate online gambling.
In a recent conversation, Chance mentioned that the parliamentary programme for the next term, starting at the end of April, has not yet been published. This lack of progress is not surprising, given the DA’s history with private members’ bills. However, the party’s recent gains in the general election and its new role in the coalition government might change its fortunes.
Another significant piece of legislation, the National Gambling Amendment Bill, was introduced by the ANC’s trade minister in 2019. It was referred to a mediation committee in April 2024 but has seen little movement since. Chance confirmed that the bill is awaiting the formation of Parliament’s Mediation Committee, with no clear timeline for when this will happen.
Provincial initiatives in the absence of national legislation
In the meantime, provinces like Gauteng are taking proactive steps. During the province’s 2025/2026 budget presentation, Finance MEC Lebogang Maile announced plans to regulate online gambling through provincial legislation. Maile highlighted the financial benefits, stating, “People are making a lot of money from online gambling. Unfortunately, most of those punters are from Gauteng and we are not getting the tax that is due to us. We are done with the draft amendment, it is there”.
Gauteng’s decision is particularly significant given its economic stature. As the largest contributor to South Africa’s GDP, accounting for 35 percent of the total, the province’s actions could set a precedent for other regions. Although online gambling is technically prohibited at the federal level, provincial licensing authorities do issue online betting licences, and certain forms of online gaming are permitted in provinces such as the Western Cape and Mpumalanga.
South Africa’s gambling landscape is evolving rapidly
The combination of national legislative delays and provincial initiatives suggests that South Africa’s gambling landscape is evolving rapidly. As Gauteng moves forward with its plans, it will be interesting to see how other provinces respond and whether this will push the national government to expedite its own legislation.
In the context of these developments, Chance’s observation about the “growing appetite” for regulating online gambling seems particularly relevant. As provinces like Gauteng take bold steps, they may inadvertently accelerate the process at the national level by demonstrating the feasibility and potential benefits of regulating online gambling.
