The North West Gambling Board (NWGB) has sounded the alarm over the rapid growth of illegal gambling activities in the province, with the Bojanala Platinum District emerging as the hardest hit.
Concerns around the escalating problem were first raised by stakeholders from the gambling and business sectors during a Presidential engagement with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Rustenburg Civic Centre in January. Industry players warned that illegal gambling continues to divert revenue from licensed operators, undermine regulatory compliance, discourage investment, and expose communities to crime and social harm.
In response, the NWGB has intensified its intervention as part of its mandate to protect compliant businesses, strengthen regulation, and promote inclusive economic growth in the province.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, NWGB Acting Chief Executive Officer Boitumelo Qalinge acknowledged the severity of the challenge, saying the board is actively addressing the issue.
“Last year alone, we destroyed hundreds of illegal gambling machines. This has proven to be a serious problem for our communities and the business sector, and it undermines our efforts to collect revenue. Illegal gambling negatively affects licensed operators, jobs, revenue, and community safety,” Qalinge said.
He added that North West Economic Development Department MEC Bitsa Lenkopane has instructed the board to intensify enforcement efforts by coordinating a provincial response team aimed at curbing illegal gambling activities.
“There is no significant loophole in our regulatory framework. The North West Gambling Act clearly outlines how gambling businesses should operate. The challenge lies with individuals who choose not to be licensed in order to evade taxes. All gambling machines must be registered, and anyone operating outside the law risks arrest,” Qalinge explained.
The Department of Economic Development, working alongside the NWGB, has begun rolling out district-based capacity-building workshops for investigators and prosecutors. These efforts are complemented by community awareness campaigns aimed at educating residents and business owners about the dangers and legal consequences of illegal gambling.
Meanwhile, illegal gambling across South Africa has reportedly reached crisis levels, with estimates indicating that more than R50 billion in gross gambling revenue is lost to the local economy each year. Additionally, approximately 62% of all online gambling activity in the country is believed to take place on unlicensed offshore platforms.
