NGB Seeks EOI for Online Monitoring and Prevention of Illegal Gambling Activities
The National Gambling Board (NGB) has issued a formal Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) to identify a service provider capable of implementing a solution to monitor, track, and block illegal online gambling websites operating in South Africa.
This move activates the board’s resolution to appoint a service provider with the specific expertise required to suppress unlicensed interactive gambling, which currently operates in direct contravention of the National Gambling Act (NGA) of 2004.
According to the board’s formal Call for Expression of Interest (EOI), the selected provider must deliver a comprehensive four-part strategy. This includes Monitoring, which involves continuous identification of traffic from illegal websites and profiling their country of origin and ownership, Blocking, which entails the immediate prevention of identified illegal domains from operating within South African borders, Reporting, which requires the delivery of profiled data and intelligence to the NGB to facilitate criminal investigations and prosecutions by law enforcement, and Tracking, which involves ongoing surveillance of blocked sites to ensure that any attempts to reintroduce them are promptly neutralized.
The NGB notes that illegal gambling has expanded rapidly, fueled by technological advancements like digital wallets and cryptocurrency, which offshore operators use to exploit jurisdictional loopholes. Under Sections 33, 66, and 11 of the NGA, the board is mandated to assist provincial authorities in suppressing these activities, particularly when they occur across provincial and national boundaries. The board stresses that the growing number of illegal online gambling activities is happening without punishment. This puts public safety at risk and reduces the country’s income.
To ensure the solution is robust, the NGB requires applicants to benchmark their proposed models against foreign jurisdictions where similar website-blocking services have been successfully deployed. Furthermore, service providers are asked to identify potential revenue generation areas within their models to ensure the long-term sustainability of the blocking services.
Interested service providers have until 04 September 2026 at 12h00 Central African Time (CAT) to submit their expressions of interest via email to the NGB’s Procurement Practitioner. Submissions must include a detailed company profile, evidence of relevant experience, and necessary certifications or licensing. This EOI process will serve to shortlist providers for a subsequent formal Request for Proposal (RFP) or Tender process.
