ISPA Warns South Africans Against Illegal Online Gambling Platforms
The Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has urged South Africans to avoid illegal online gambling platforms, particularly offshore betting and casino websites that do not hold licences within the country’s regulated framework.
In a statement issued on 16 February, ISPA cautioned that participation in unlicensed online gambling exposes consumers to both legal and financial risks. While foreign gambling websites may be accessible online, they operate outside South Africa’s regulatory protections, leaving players without recourse should disputes arise.
ISPA Chair Sasha Booth-Beharilal warned that choosing offshore gambling services over licensed local options is a serious misstep. “Given that there are regulated and licensed local online gambling options, anyone using an illegal, overseas site to play hard and fast with their finances, is at the very least being extremely reckless,” she said.
The association further noted that local banks are legally required to confiscate any proceeds linked to unlawful gambling activity. As a result, even winnings obtained through offshore platforms may be forfeited if identified as originating from illegal betting.
“South Africans are not permitted to gamble on online casinos and sports betting platforms that are not licensed locally, unregulated sites likely have the odds heavily stacked against the player, and banks are legally obligated to confiscate any winnings detected,“ the statement read.
Recent data from the National Gambling Board indicates that approximately R75 billion is spent annually on online gambling in South Africa. Referencing this figure, ISPA described online gambling as “a risky pursuit offering little upside” as it hoovers up R75bn of South Africans’ incomes each year. The association warned that gambling illegally magnifies that risk, particularly because unlicensed international operators fall outside South Africa’s regulatory framework. Unlike licensed local providers, illegal offshore platforms are not subject to the same oversight or accountability mechanisms, increasing the potential for financial harm and leaving players with limited recourse should disputes arise.
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Addressing calls from some quarters for internet service providers to block access to unlicensed gambling websites, ISPA cautioned that South African law does not permit ISPs to intercept or monitor users’ internet traffic. The association stated that any form of online content restriction must be implemented within a clear legislative framework that respects constitutional protections.
“South Africans must not have their communications interfered with, and any internet censorship must carefully balance their rights with the harms that may be caused by certain types of content,” Booth-Beharilal said.
