NGB and ARB Partner to Tighten Oversight of Gambling Advertising in South Africa
The National Gambling Board (NGB) and the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) have established a formal partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen oversight of gambling advertising across South Africa.
Announced on 17 September 2026, this strategic initiative is designed to enhance cooperation in monitoring promotional activities across both traditional and digital advertising platforms. As gambling promotions expand across television, radio, billboards, and online spaces, the two regulatory bodies are aligning their efforts to protect consumers and foster responsible advertising practices.
The rapid growth of online gambling and digital marketing has fundamentally altered how gambling operators reach the public. To address these shifts, the MoU establishes a dedicated framework for joint monitoring across digital channels, including social media platforms, website promotions, and influencer marketing.
The collaboration specifically extends to cross-border and illegal online gambling advertisements. Under this agreement, the NGB and ARB will routinely exchange information regarding emerging marketing trends, associated risks, and regulatory concerns, while sharing technical expertise in gambling standards, consumer protection, and digital marketing strategies.
A central component of the MoU is the creation of formal referral mechanisms for public complaints regarding non-compliant gambling advertisements. The agreement establishes structured procedures for the NGB and ARB to investigate breaches of advertising standards and respond to non-compliant promotions.
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As an agency of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), the NGB operates with concurrent competencies alongside provincial gambling regulators to enforce consistency under the National Gambling Act, 2004 (Act No. 7 of 2004). The partnership with the ARB provides an additional layer of administrative oversight to ensure that gambling marketing adheres strictly to national regulatory norms.
For the NGB, this joint initiative forms part of its broader mandate to safeguard players and combat illegal gambling operations. The MoU outlines plans for joint educational campaigns and public awareness initiatives across communication platforms to inform both gambling operators and local communities.
Through ongoing collaboration with provincial licensing authorities and law enforcement agencies, the NGB aims to help consumers distinguish between licensed operators and illegal platforms. Members of the public are urged to gamble exclusively with licensed operators and exercise caution when interacting with online and social media promotions.
