Gambling in South Africa is tightly regulated. Provincially licensed sports and horse-racing betting, land-based casinos, limited payout machines and bingo, and the National Lottery are legal. Online casino games are illegal. All gambling is for people aged 18 and over only.
Start here
- South African gambling law: what is legal, what is not, and the risks of illegal gambling.
- Casinos and resorts: licensed land-based casinos in each province and what they offer.
- Sports betting: how to check a bookmaker is licensed, and the betting rules.
Legal or illegal at a glance
| Type | Legal in South Africa? |
|---|---|
| Sports and horse-racing betting with a licensed operator (including its online betting) | Legal |
| Licensed land-based casinos | Legal |
| Limited payout machines (LPMs) and bingo | Legal (licensed) |
| National Lottery | Legal |
| Online casino games (slots, roulette, blackjack, live dealer and similar) | Illegal |
Key things to know
- Online casinos are illegal. Unauthorised interactive gambling is unlawful under the National Gambling Act of 2004. The National Gambling Board (NGB) restated this in a notice on 27 February 2026 and told provincial regulators to step up enforcement.
- Licences come from the provinces. Casinos and bookmakers are licensed by the gambling board of their province, and you can check a licence on the board’s website before you bet.
- 18+ only. Nobody under 18 may gamble in any form or enter a casino gaming floor.
- Free help is available. The National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) runs a free, confidential 24-hour helpline on 0800 006 008.
Gambling should only ever be entertainment; never bet with borrowed money. For more advice, see our responsible gambling page.
Related sections
To combine a casino resort with a holiday, see Travel & leisure.
