Gauteng’s Gambling Industry and Employment: Jobs Created and Lost in 2025

In 2025, Gauteng’s gambling industry and employment continued to play a central role in South Africa’s dynamic gaming landscape. As the country’s economic engine and a hotspot for both land-based and online gambling, Gauteng shaped trends in revenue, technology adoption, and job creation. With the sector expanding nationally and the regulatory landscape shifting, Gauteng remained a key province to watch.

South Africa’s gambling industry achieved a record R59.3 billion in gross gambling revenue (GGR) in the 2023/24 financial year—up 25.7% from the previous year (TimesLIVE, 2024). This growth came from increased betting activity, especially online, and strong performance across several sectors.

National GGR Breakdown:

Sports betting: R35.91 billion (online share: R28.97 billion)
Casinos: R17.36 billion
Limited payout machines (LPMs): R4.15 billion
Bingo: R1.89 billion

Gauteng contributed R13.10 billion in GGR from total player wagers of R173.7 billion, ranking second after the Western Cape (iGaming Business, 2024). This confirms Gauteng’s continued dominance in both casino and digital betting sectors.

How the Sector Supports Jobs

The gambling industry in South Africa supports between 29,000 and 35,000 direct jobs, according to industry and government sources (Focus Gaming News, 2024, Gauteng.net, 2025).

Though Gauteng-specific numbers are unavailable, the province is believed to employ a substantial share of these workers across its network of casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, and online platforms.

Sector-wide Employment Breakdown:

Casinos: ~13,000 jobs
Retail and online betting: ~7,000 jobs
LPM operators: ~5,000 jobs
Bingo operations: ~3,500 jobs

Gauteng’s gambling industry and employment footprint spans customer service, technical support, marketing, hospitality, and compliance.

The Digital Transformation of Gambling Jobs

In 2025, the rapid growth of online gambling reshaped how and where people work in the industry. With R28.97 billion generated from online sports betting alone, digital platforms became a driving force in South Africa’s gambling economy (iGaming Business, 2024).

As more operators moved online, new roles emerged in areas like:

IT and software development
Cybersecurity and fraud detection
Customer service (live chat and support)
Regulatory compliance
Data analytics and digital marketing

While no official data confirms how many jobs digital gambling supports, experts agree that the digital segment now represents a growing portion of Gauteng’s gambling industry and employment ecosystem.

Land-Based Casinos: A Mixed Outlook

While digital gambling soared, traditional casinos in Gauteng experienced flat growth. National casino revenue in 2023/24 reached R17.36 billion, reflecting just a 0.1% increase from the previous year (iGaming Business, 2024).

This stagnation doesn’t yet show direct impacts on employment, but it may influence future hiring or expansion decisions. Casino operators may hold off on large-scale hiring or capital investments unless foot traffic increases. In Gauteng, this trend could affect front-line staff roles, such as those in hospitality and gaming operations.

Regulation on the Horizon

In 2025, the proposed Remote Gambling Bill entered the national spotlight. This bill aims to legalize and regulate online gambling in South Africa—an area previously operating in legal grey zones. It would introduce licensing requirements, tax rules, and stricter compliance obligations (TechCentral, 2024).

While the bill had not yet passed by mid-2025, Gauteng-based companies began preparing for compliance. Experts believe the bill could lead to new job creation in legal, risk, and platform management roles, potentially expanding Gauteng’s gambling industry and employment profile in the legal-tech space.

What’s Next for Gauteng’s Gambling Workforce?

As technology advances and regulation becomes clearer, Gauteng’s gambling industry and employment trends show both promise and complexity.

Opportunities:

Expansion of online gambling may create demand for digital, technical, and compliance roles.
Regulation could attract international operators, boosting job creation and local partnerships.
A more transparent industry may lead to sustainable employment practices.

Challenges:

Casino revenue stagnation may limit new hiring in land-based venues.
Smaller betting operators might struggle to meet new regulatory standards.
Lack of detailed provincial employment data makes workforce planning difficult.

ALSO READ: Gauteng Gambling and the Digital Divide: Who’s Being Left Out?

Final Thoughts

Gauteng’s gambling industry and employment remains vital to South Africa’s economic future. The sector supports tens of thousands of jobs, generates billions in revenue, and stands on the brink of major transformation. While traditional gambling faces stagnation, online platforms present a wave of opportunity for skilled professionals.

With smart regulation, investment in digital infrastructure, and focus on workforce development, Gauteng has the potential to lead the country into a new era of inclusive, modern, and responsible gambling employment.

MORE READS: The Influence of Local Culture and Traditions on Gambling Choices in Gauteng