The KwaZulu-Natal Economic Regulator (KZNER) has stated that unregulated online gambling is a crime. This announcement follows a recent report from the National Gambling Board, which revealed that South Africans spent R1.5 trillion on gambling during the 2024/25 financial year an increase of R400 billion from the previous year.

Bonga Mngoma, KZNER’s Executive for Transformation and Economic Development, emphasized the concerning growth of illegal online gambling that needs to be addressed.

“Online gambling has seen significant growth, but illegal online gambling continues to rise without regulation. This creates a real challenge because, without regulation, the public is not protected. Unregulated online gambling is a crime, as it involves activities that are not legal, leaving the public vulnerable in this area.”