ECGB Commends Nyandeni Municipality for Seizure of 155 Illegal Gambling Machines

The Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB) has commended Nyandeni Local Municipality for its successful crackdown on illegal gambling operations, following the confiscation of 155 illegal gambling machines intended for unlawful distribution across the Eastern Cape.

The machines were seized from a container before they could be distributed within the province. The ECGB said the operation represented a decisive intervention aimed at preventing the spread of illegal gambling activities that operate outside the regulated framework.

The South African regulator also noted that the operation in Nyandeni followed ongoing public awareness initiatives in the area, where communities have been educated on the dangers of illegal gambling and how to identify unlawful machines.

Read Also: ECGB Destroys Illegal Gambling Machines Ahead of Responsible Gambling Month Launch

This crackdown follows a separate enforcement exercise by the Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB) in which dozens of illegal Chinese Roulette Machines were confiscated in November, 2025. At the time, the Board confirmed that the machines, seized from various locations across the province, could not be registered, tested, or certified under South African gambling regulations, rendering them unlawful to operate.

“It is what I often call a silent genocide. These guys are not paying any taxes, they are not abiding by the law, they are not complying with any law. They are just taking the money that you guys are working for. In the regulated space, at least 80% of what you play must be returned to the public but with these machines, they give you whatever you want. You are not enjoying any benefit,” commented Zuko Phandle, Manager: Audit and Compliance at the ECGB.