South Africa's Online Casino Question: Where Certification Stands in 2026

Slots, roulette and crash games appear on South African phones every day, yet no national online casino licence exists. Online gambling through interactive games, apart from betting with a licensed bookmaker, remains unregulated and prohibited in South Africa.

The gap between what players see and what the law allows has shaped every certification decision in 2026. Operators, provincial boards and the National Gambling Board now disagree on which systems qualify for approval at all.

A Licence Parliament Never Switched On

South Africa wrote online casino rules long ago but never activated them. The 2008 Amendment Act specifies that interactive gambling licences must be issued as a national licence. The President assented to the Act, but the government has never proclaimed it into force.

A second attempt sits in Parliament. The Democratic Alliance introduced the Remote Gambling Bill (B11-2024) in April 2024, proposing one national licensing framework for sports betting, casino games, poker and person-to-person gambling. Under the Bill, the NGB would administer licences while provincial authorities handle monitoring and enforcement.

Progress has been slow. Public comment closed in late 2024 and committee hearings ran through 2025. In mid-2026, Trade Minister Parks Tau confirmed a dedicated Gambling Technical Committee to align national and provincial rules.

How Bookmakers Filled the Gap

Provincial bookmaker licences became the route for casino-style products. Legal practitioners argue that provincial regulators such as the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board hold authority to license fixed-odds betting on non-sporting contingencies, including games that mimic casino products.

The courts narrowed that route in Gauteng. The Supreme Court of Appeal found it unlawful for Gauteng bookmakers to offer fixed-odds bets on roulette without a casino licence. The Western Cape board said in November 2025 that the ruling does not affect operators it licenses.

The Server Certificate That Lapsed

Certification took a hard turn in February 2026. On 27 February, the NGB directed all provincial licensing authorities to stop approving or using Remote Gambling Servers. The NRCS also stopped issuing or renewing RGS certification letters, and earlier letters lapsed.

The notice rests on a narrow reading of the national standard. According to the NRCS, SANS 1718-4:2018 covers only Wagering and Record Keeping Systems. Provincial boards were told to require certified WRS that comply with SANS 1718 and to act against operators who do not.

For casino suppliers, the change removes the certificate many relied on. Without a lawful product category, no test report turns an online casino game into an approved national offering.

Pushback From the Industry

Operators dispute the NGB's authority to issue the notice. The South African Bookmakers' Association argues that sections 33 and 34 of the National Gambling Act do not give the NGB power to make authoritative statements on legal requirements.

Some lawyers doubt the notice will change much. Gambling law expert Garron Whitesman told ITWeb he expects provincial boards to keep permitting RGS-based games. The NGB says it will monitor all provinces and report compliance and enforcement results to Minister Tau.

Tax planning adds pressure. The NGB notice landed on the final day of consultation on Treasury's proposed 20% national tax on online and interactive gambling revenue. Operators now face a possible new tax on a product category the national regulator calls unlawful.

What Players and Operators See Now

The NGB has added a consumer check. A public verified-operators portal launched on 8 April 2026, letting consumers confirm whether a bookmaker or casino holds a current provincial licence.

Public submissions are shaping the debate as well. Consumer groups warned in 2026 that legalising online gambling without affordability checks, real-time harm monitoring or national self-exclusion risks harming low-income households.

Certification Waits on Parliament

South Africa has testing standards, accredited labs and nine provincial boards, but no national online casino licence to certify against. Until Parliament passes the Remote Gambling Bill or proclaims the 2008 Act, the timeline for online casino certification remains open.

Read also: Dakar to Host SBWA+ and GEFA 2026 as Africa's Betting Industry Meets Under One Roof