NGB Orders Crackdown on Unlawful Gambling Advertising Across South Africa

The National Gambling Board (NGB) has issued a firm directive to all Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs), calling for immediate and coordinated action to curb the growing spread of unlawful gambling advertising across South Africa. The communication, dated 1 December 2025 and signed by Acting CEO Lungile Dukwana, raises alarm over advertising practices that increasingly violate the National Gambling Act, 2004 and its accompanying regulations.

According to the NGB, recent monitoring efforts have uncovered a rise in adverts that mislead consumers, target minors, omit responsible gambling warnings, or attempt to lure players with inducements disguised as “free” or “discounted” gambling. These practices, the Board notes, run directly against section 15 of the National Gambling Act, which sets strict parameters for how gambling activities, devices, and premises may be promoted. This section also prohibits any form of advertising that is deceptive, unlawful, or that encourages vulnerable individuals including minors and persons listed on the exclusion register to engage in gambling.

The NGB further highlighted that Regulation 3 of the National Gambling Regulations expands these restrictions by prohibiting advertising that contains lewd or indecent content, portrays excessive play, implies guaranteed success, or suggests gambling is a solution to financial difficulties. The regulation also restricts advertising placements in or near schools, youth centres, tertiary institutions, or any space where minors are likely to be the primary audience.

In response to the escalating concerns, the NGB has called on PLAs to implement an urgent and comprehensive enforcement plan. The Board has issued the following directives:

• Conduct comprehensive compliance reviews of all gambling billboard adverts and promotions, in their provinces, by licensees to ensure adherence to section 15 of the NGA, read with regulation 3 of the NGR and provincial legislation.
• Conduct comprehensive compliance reviews of all other gambling adverts and promotions (for example TV, radio, social media etc.) by licensees to ensure adherence to section 15 of the NGA, read with regulation 3 of the NGR and provincial legislation.
• Immediately remove or instruct the removal of non-compliant advertisements, and any other promotional material that violates section 15 of the NGA, read with regulation 3 of the NGR and provincial legislation.
• Remove or cause the removal of any advertising material, including billboards and digital promotions, belonging to operators not licensed within your province.
• Ensure that gambling advertising or promotions conducted by influencers, brand ambassadors, or social media personalities acting on behalf of licensed operators are compliant with section 15 of the NGA, read with regulation 3 of the NGR. Consequently, PLAs must direct licensees to immediately withdraw or take down influencer-based advertising or promotions that are misleading, fail to carry responsible gambling messages or otherwise contravene responsible gambling advertising standards.

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The NGB has emphasised that where violations are identified, PLAs must impose meaningful enforcement actions. These may include fines, additional licence conditions, or even licence suspensions, depending on the severity and frequency of non-compliance. The Board has also committed to its own national monitoring of advertisements across all media formats and will notify the relevant PLA when breaches are detected, allowing provinces to act swiftly.

To strengthen consistency and accountability across the country, each PLA will be required to submit a detailed report to the NGB within 30 days of receiving the reporting template, and subsequently on a quarterly basis. These reports must outline the advertisements removed, the number and type of non-compliant materials identified, the enforcement actions taken, and the measures implemented to prevent future infringements.