The National Gambling Board (NGB), acting under its powers in the National Gambling Act, 2004 (Act 7 of 2004) (NGA), continues to take enforcement action to tackle unlawful gambling activities in South Africa, including unlawful online gambling. Section 16 of the NGA authorizes the NGB to investigate unlawful gambling and, where an activity is determined to be unlawful, to apply to the High Court for an order declaring that the winnings derived from that activity be forfeited to the State.
To implement Section 16, and subject to investigations, several amounts identified as proceeds of unlawful gambling activities were forfeited to the State by High Court order between 1 April 2025 and 10 April 2026.
In total, approximately R3,075,000 was forfeited during this period, including approximately R775,000 during the 2025/26 financial year (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026) and approximately R2,300,000 forfeited as of 10 April 2026 in the 2026/27 financial year (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027).
The High Court therefore ordered the forfeiture of these amounts as proceeds derived in contravention of the NGA. Acting CEO Lungile Dukwana said the forfeiture of unlawful gambling proceeds shows the NGB’s continued commitment to enforcing the NGA and supporting lawful, accountable gambling in South Africa. She added that the outcome highlights the importance of a coordinated regulatory and judicial approach to protect the public and strengthen confidence in the gambling industry.
The NGB urges members of the public to exercise caution and to avoid gambling on platforms that are not licensed in South Africa. Under Section 16, winnings from unlawful gambling activities may be declared unlawful proceeds and forfeited by High Court order. As a result, people who participate in illegal online gambling operators risk losing all winnings, with no legal protection or recourse.
The NGB urged South Africans to verify that gambling operators are properly licensed before placing bets, warning that winnings derived from unlawful gambling activities may be forfeited to the State. The regulator also encouraged the public to report suspected illegal gambling activities through its official channels.
