Civil Society Groups Unite Against Online Gambling in South Africa
A coalition of 107 South African organisations has called for a complete ban on online gambling, citing its social, economic, and moral harms caused by the rapidly expanding industry. The coalition which includes labour unions, community associations, faith-based organisations, and welfare groups, gathered at the Radisson Blu Hotel over the weekend to launch the initiative and unveil a 90-day National Action Plan aimed at raising awareness and pressuring lawmakers to take action.
Through their Civil Society Declaration on the Harm of Online Gambling, the coalition called on the government to outlaw online gambling entirely and prohibit related advertising. They also urged authorities to halt the issuance of new gambling licences and create a national task force to shut down unlicensed operators, arguing that current legislation was not designed to regulate digital betting platforms and allows some operators to exploit legal loopholes.
Speaking at the event, Dhilosen Pillay, former chairperson of the Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Board said ,“Our nation faces a silent epidemic, the rapid rise of online gambling that preys on our youth, destroys families, and undermines our national wellbeing. This is not a moral panic; it is a national emergency. Today, we stand not against entertainment, but against exploitation; not against technology, but against its abuse. Together, we can end the harm. Together, we can protect our nation.”
Read Also: Galaxsys Hosted Media Briefing to Introduce Chicken Crash and 2026 Strategic Roadmap
Rakesh Ramanand, a recovering compulsive gambler, shared his personal experience, saying, “Gambling quietly crept into our homes, our phones, and our daily lives,” he said. “Today I am 21 years, five months and 27 days gambling-free. Although I am 21 years clean, I’m just one bet away from relapsing and ruining my life.” He called for more stringent legal measures and restrictions, comparable to the rules applied to tobacco. “Gambling advertising needs to be banned completely. Billboards must warn about addiction and promote the help that’s available. Have you ever seen a gambling house close down? Odds are not in your favor; they’re in the house’s favor.”
The memorandum, drafted during the event, urged Parliament to take decisive action by following India’s example and imposing an outright ban on all forms of online gambling. It called for a national march to raise public awareness, a prohibition on gambling advertising, and a temporary freeze on the issuance of new licences. The document also demanded the creation of a National Enforcement Task Force to target illegal operators and proposed amendments to the National Gambling Act to permanently outlaw digital gambling while criminalising unlicensed platforms.
