South Africa’s Crackdown on Online Casinos: What Businesses Need to Know in 2026

Key Takeaways:

1. Online casinos (like slots, roulette, blackjack, and poker played over the internet) are still illegal in South Africa in 2026. Only licensed sports betting is allowed.

2. The National Gambling Board (NGB) recently told provinces to crack down on unauthorised South African online casinos and investigate operators.

3. Businesses such as banks, fintechs, and payment platforms may face AML and fraud risks if they process payments linked to illegal gambling sites.

4. Strong identity verification and risk checks help businesses stay safe and compliant.
 

Introduction 

South Africa has seen a huge rise in online betting, with total wagers exceeding R1 trillion in recent years. While sports betting is legal and regulated, online casinos offering games like roulette, blackjack, slots, and poker remain illegal under the National Gambling Act of 2004.
 

Despite the ban, many platforms continue targeting South African players. These sites are often marketed as South African online casinos, even though they operate outside the country’s legal framework. In response, regulators are increasing enforcement against illegal operators and the companies that support them. 
 

This article explains why South Africa is cracking down on online casinos, what the law currently allows, and what banks, fintechs, and payment providers should do to stay compliant. By the end, you'll understand the situation and how tools like automated checks can help legitimate companies avoid problems.

Why Is South Africa Cracking Down on Online Casinos Now?

The rules say interactive gambling (games played online with electronic tools) is not allowed unless a special national law says yes. 

Recent moves include:
 

1. Regulatory enforcement by the National Gambling Board (NGB)

The NGB recently issued guidance to provincial regulators urging them to identify and shut down illegal online casino operators and enforce licensing checks.
 

2. Court rulings clarifying the law

A 2025 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling confirmed that licensed bookmakers cannot offer casino-style games online, limiting them strictly to sports betting and fixed-odds wagers.
 

3. Rising concerns about illegal gambling advertising

Authorities have also moved against influencers and marketing campaigns promoting online casinos, particularly when they target young audiences.
 

4. Policy discussions about gambling taxation

Government discussions about a potential 20% tax on online gambling revenue have highlighted how complicated the current regulatory landscape has become, especially since most online casino platforms targeting South Africa are technically illegal.
 

What Does This Mean for Everyday Businesses?

Most companies are not operating gambling platforms themselves. However, many businesses handle payments linked to gambling activity.

• Banks processing deposits or withdrawals
• Payment apps or gateways processing transfers
• Crypto platforms or wallets used for funding bets.

If money goes to illegal online casinos, it can look like money laundering (hiding dirty money) or fraud. South Africa's Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) requires businesses to watch for this under anti-money laundering (AML) rules.
 

Failure to detect these risks can lead to:

• Hefty fines
• Orders to stop operation
• Damage to their reputation

The crackdown targets illegal operators, but banks and fintechs get pulled in if they don't spot risky patterns early.

How Businesses Can Protect Themselves

To reduce risk, businesses should apply these simple but effective controls:

• Verify customer identities to prevent fraud and fake accounts.
• Monitor transactions to detect unusual payments to gambling platforms.
• Screen customers against regulatory watchlists to identify potential risks.
• Use continuous monitoring to flag suspicious activity early.
   

How Youverify Helps Businesses Stay Ahead

South Africa’s crackdown on online casinos serves as a reminder that robust compliance systems are necessary for any organisation that processes money, whether online or otherwise.
 

With Youverify, businesses can automate identity checks, conduct real-time transaction monitoring, and identify high-risk activities associated with known illegal gambling sites.
 

At Youverify, we help reduce fraud losses and make onboarding smoother for your customers. To get started, book a demo today to see how it works for your business.

FAQs

1. Is online gambling banned in South Africa in 2026?

The NGB maintains that interactive and remote gambling is illegal in South Africa, unless explicitly permitted by national law. 
 

2. What is the NGB doing about illegal online gambling?

The National Gambling Board (NGB) has directed provinces to enforce the ban on online casinos, check licences, and take action against unauthorised operators.
 

3. Can businesses get in trouble for customers using illegal gambling sites?

Yes. Banks and payment providers must monitor transactions under AML laws. Failure to detect suspicious activity linked to online casinos can lead to fines or other penalties from the FIC.
 

4. What is the difference between sports betting and online casinos?

Sports betting (betting on soccer matches, etc.) is legal if licensed. Online casinos involve casino games like poker or slots over the internet, and these are currently banned in South Africa unless a new national law allows them.
 

5. How can businesses quickly detect gambling-related risks?

Using automated tools for ID verification, transaction monitoring, and risk scoring. Platforms like Youverify do this in seconds, flagging things like transfers to illegal sites without slowing down normal users.