New gambling tax on the cards for South Africa
South Africa's National Treasury proposes a 20% tax on online gambling revenue to address growing gambling addiction concerns.Summary
The National Treasury of South Africa has extended the deadline for public comment on a proposed tax for online gambling, citing a surge in gambling addiction linked to the accessibility of online platforms. The proposed tax, set at 20% of gross gambling revenue, would be in addition to existing provincial taxes, resulting in a combined rate of 26-29%. The Treasury emphasized that the primary goal isn't revenue generation, but rather discouraging problem gambling, functioning as a “sin tax” similar to those on tobacco and alcohol. Industry growth figures reveal a significant increase in betting activity, with a 390% rise in gross gambling revenue over the past five years, reaching R51.97 billion in 2024/25. The Treasury encourages public input to shape the final policy.
(Source：South African)