More than 3,000 gambling licences issued annually as Rise Mzansi raises oversight concern
South Africa issues over 3,000 gambling licenses annually, prompting concerns from Rise Mzansi about inadequate oversight and monitoring.Summary
South Africa’s gambling industry is experiencing significant growth, with more than 3,000 licenses issued each year, particularly for limited payout machines and bookmakers. This expansion, especially the increase in bookmaker licenses – now exceeding 400, surpassing numbers in countries like Australia, Brazil, and Denmark – has raised concerns about enforcement gaps and adequate monitoring of operators. Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana has called for a moratorium on new bookmaker licenses, a national licensing framework for online operators, and a review of existing regulations to align with international best practices. The current provincial licensing system is seen as insufficient for overseeing online gambling that crosses provincial boundaries. Data also suggests limited enforcement of illegal online gambling, with a disproportionately small number of reported cases and convictions compared to land-based operations, highlighting challenges in tackling online offenses.
(Source：Timeslive)