South Africa Steps Up Plan to Block Illegal Gambling Sites
South Africa’s National Gambling Board (NGB) is moving forward with plans to monitor and block illegal online gambling websites targeting local players.
The regulator published an Expression of Interest on June 30, 2026 and amended it on July 17, 2026. The deadline for submissions was extended from August 7, 2026 to September 4, 2026.
The NGB is looking for a provider that can identify illegal gambling websites, block access to them, track sites that return under new domains and report information to the regulator. The data could also be passed to law enforcement for further action.
The process does not guarantee that a contract will be awarded. Instead, the submissions will help the NGB prepare requirements for a possible future tender or Request for Proposal.
Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has raised concerns about blocking without a clear legal framework. It has also warned that some blocking methods can be bypassed or affect unrelated websites.
Sean Coleman, chief executive of SABA, warned:
Website blocking, while important, should not be viewed as a silver bullet.
The NGB’s current database includes 90 illegal gambling websites. The regulator is seeking a longer-term system that can respond when blocked operators return through replacement or mirror sites.
