SA Gambling News: Poker Launches, Political Firestorms, and a Billion-Rand Betting Boom

Gambling news in South Africa this past week brought a mix of excitement, controversy, and a few raised eyebrows. From Hollywoodbets introducing poker to MPs sharpening their knives, and Apple confusing betting apps for video games, here’s the round-up of what’s happening in Mzansi’s gambling industry.

Hollywoodbets & EvenBet poker deal

Poker players in South Africa can finally shuffle up and deal online, thanks to a new partnership between EvenBet Gaming and Hollywoodbets. The two have teamed up to launch one of Africa’s first fully operational online poker platforms, starting with the classic Texas Hold’em. More poker variants are expected soon.

For EvenBet, this is a milestone. The company has been expanding globally, with recent launches in the Netherlands and Colombia, but South Africa marks its first poker venture on the continent. Dmitry Starostenkov of EvenBet called it “a landmark moment.” At the same time, Hollywoodbets’ Head of Product, Wayde Dorkin, said it’s a chance to give South African players a genuine world-class poker experience.

Why does this matter? Poker has been lagging in Africa, with only a handful of platforms offering full-scale services. But with more affordable data and better mobile access, the timing looks right. Whether this becomes a new trend or a niche product will depend on how quickly players take to it.

MP attacks online gambling: “A social ill”

Not everyone is celebrating new digital gambling opportunities. Makashule Gana, MP for the Rise Mzansi Party, has once again slammed the iGaming industry. He’s warned that unregulated casino-like games are harming young South Africans and draining money away from essential services.

“If these companies do not pay for the damage they are causing, we will be left with a huge burden,” Gana said. He’s previously compared online gambling addiction to the scourge of nyaope, a cheap heroin derivative that devastates communities. Strong words, but they reflect a growing unease about the accessibility of online betting.

The Democratic Alliance has attempted to address these concerns with its Remote Gambling Bill of 2024, which would transfer licensing powers to provinces, tighten advertising regulations, and subject online operators to modern FICA requirements. The problem? The bill is still gathering dust, waiting for the Trade, Industry & Competition Portfolio Committee to move it forward.

Until then, the industry operates in a semi-regulated state: sports betting is legal, but casino games are not; yet, many sportsbooks continue to offer online slots and roulette.

Apple’s big app store blunder

As if regulatory confusion wasn’t enough, Apple added fuel to the fire by mistakenly listing Hollywoodbets as the top free iPhone game in South Africa. That’s right, alongside Candy Crush and Subway Surfers, you could find Hollywoodbets, Jackpot City, and other gambling apps mislabelled as games.

Hollywoodbets said it wasn’t their doing and immediately raised the issue with Apple. Still, the error highlights just how blurred the lines have become between gaming and gambling, especially when apps aimed at adults show up in categories that are easily accessible to younger audiences.

Adding to the concern, an April 2025 InfoQuest survey found that nearly half of South African gamblers are playing more often than they were a year ago. Even more worrying, about two-thirds admitted they weren’t using spare cash; they were dipping into money meant for bills, savings, and essentials.

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Advertising & compliance under the microscope

Minister Parks Tau and the National Gambling Board aren’t impressed with how operators market themselves either. From flashy promises of overnight riches to sponsorships of family TV shows, gambling advertising has gone “overboard,” according to critics.

The NGB also reminded operators that online casino games are illegal, no matter how many sportsbooks quietly sneak them into their digital lobbies. The 2011 Supreme Court ruling against Piggs Peak Casino still stands, and the 2008 National Gambling Amendment Act, which would have created a legal framework for online casinos, was never enacted.

Despite this, players across South Africa can easily spin slots or play blackjack on local sportsbook sites, creating a regulatory grey zone that’s now attracting louder political attention.

R1.14 trillion wagered

While lawmakers argue, the money keeps rolling in. The National Gambling Board’s latest annual report shows South Africans wagered an eye-watering R1.14 trillion in the year ending March 2024. Gross Gambling Revenue hit R59.3 billion, with more than 60% coming from online and retail betting, mainly sports and horse racing.

Traditional casinos, once the giants of the industry, are now trailing. Betting turnover hit R761 billion, more than double the R297 billion generated by casinos.

Provincial governments have been cashing in, too. The Western Cape led the way, collecting almost R1.46 billion in gambling taxes, followed by Gauteng at R1.15 billion. Mpumalanga, despite having the highest overall turnover, came third with R890 million. KwaZulu-Natal wasn’t far behind, with R734 million banked.

The tax figures make one thing clear: while the legal framework may be outdated, the gambling industry has become a significant source of provincial revenue.