TLDR South Africa issued 3,135 gambling licenses in 2024/2025, slightly down from 3,174 the previous year Most licenses went to limited payout machine sites and bookmakers across provincial boards Gauteng led with 753 licenses, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (596) and Western Cape (549) Police recorded 32,938 illegal gambling cases over five years but only 36 were online Lawmakers are calling for stronger coordination between national and provincial regulators
South Africa’s gambling industry is facing renewed scrutiny after parliamentary data revealed that more than 3,000 licenses are being approved each year.
The figures came from a written reply to Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana. The response showed that 3,135 gambling licenses were issued during the 2024/2025 financial year.
That number followed 3,174 licenses in 2023/2024 and 3,186 in 2022/2023. The consistently high figures have prompted questions about whether regulators can keep up.
Most of the approved licenses went to limited payout machine sites and bookmakers. These two categories remain the largest drivers of growth in the sector.
Licensing in South Africa is handled by provincial gambling boards. The data shows some provinces are far more active than others when it comes to approvals.
Gauteng led all provinces with 753 licenses issued in 2024/2025. KwaZulu-Natal came in second with 596, and the Western Cape followed with 549.
Provincial Oversight Gaps Draw Criticism
The reply was sent to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau. Gana had written to the minister raising concerns about the rapid rise of bookmakers and how South Africa’s market stacks up against other countries.
Questions are now being raised about whether provincial boards have the resources to properly enforce rules. These include consumer protection standards, responsible gambling measures, and financial reporting requirements.
The concern is that enforcement varies widely depending on the province. Some boards are