The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is deeply concerned by the explosion in unregulated and illegal online gambling. If left unchecked it threatens to plunge thousands into absolute poverty and despair.
Gambling and betting are highly addictive and when left unregulated has led to millions trapped into a vicious cycle of betting, debt and despair. Many have lost everything. Others have resorted to suicide.
South Africa has seen an explosive growth in online gambling and betting over the past few years. These are mostly illegal with sports betting an exception. This growth has been spurred by largely unregulated online advertising and the ease in which gamblers can do so online at any time of the day with little scrutiny over age and few, if any controls.
It is estimated that the gambling industry generated R1.14 trillion in turnover in 2024 with South Africans spending on average R4 billion a day on it. Up to 83% of gamblers are reported to be in debt as a result. Depressing reports show a spike in social grants and NSFAS recipients turning to gambling. These are monies better spent on buying essential goods and supporting economic growth.
There is space for responsible gambling and betting in society, but it must be well regulated, transparent and accountable. Whilst the National Gambling Act provides such a foundation, it needs to be urgently strengthened combined with other interventions, to deal with the explosion of online gambling and advertising.
Online gambling and betting needs to be included in South Africa’s tax regime and pay its fair dues to the fiscus. The state needs to become increasingly agile to deal with the growing shift to e-commerce if we are to ensure the integrity and effective enforcement of our laws, in particular taxation. This was a key call made by COSATU and Parliament during the 2025/26 Budget engagements.
It is critical that Treasury and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition table the necessary and long overdue legislative amendments to address these burning matters. COSATU will engage with both Departments on these painful challenges facing workers and society.
Issued by COSATU
Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)
Mobile: 082 785 0687
Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za
