{"id":43584,"date":"2026-10-23T10:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T08:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=43584"},"modified":"2026-10-23T10:26:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T08:26:01","slug":"south-africa-online-gambling-tax-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/south-africa-online-gambling-tax-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"20% Tax On Online Betting? What Treasury\u2019s Proposed Online Gambling Tax Means For South African Punters Ahead Of Budget 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Africa\u2019s proposed national tax on online gambling is moving ahead. Government will announce the final design of the tax in the <strong>February 2027 Budget<\/strong>, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said this week.<\/p><div id=\"gaute-973512941\" class=\"gaute-after-paragraph-1 gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tax was first proposed by National Treasury in November 2025, as a <strong>20% tax on gross gambling revenue<\/strong> from online betting and interactive gambling. It would come on top of the gambling taxes provinces already charge. Treasury says the main aim is to curb the harm caused by the rapid growth of online betting, and the tax could also raise more than R10 billion a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what\u2019s being proposed, why, what the industry says and what it could mean for punters in Gauteng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Godongwana Said In The Mini-Budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Delivering the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, Godongwana confirmed that Treasury is still working on the tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cConsultations are ongoing on the proposed tax design,\u201d he said. The consultations also cover how the tax fits with the existing regulatory framework and what it would mean for provinces and the regulated gambling market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAn announcement of the final design will be made in the February 2027 Budget,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He added that \u201cthe submissions received generally recognised the need to address the growth of online gambling and its associated harm\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Being Proposed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposal comes from Treasury\u2019s draft <strong>national online gambling tax discussion paper<\/strong>, released on 25 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>What\u2019s taxed:<\/strong> gross gambling revenue (GGR) from online betting, including interactive gambling. GGR is the total amount bet, minus the winnings paid out to players.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Proposed rate:<\/strong> 20%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Who would pay:<\/strong> gambling operators, not individual punters. The final design is still open.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How it fits with existing taxes:<\/strong> the 20% would be charged in addition to the gambling taxes provinces already collect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expected revenue:<\/strong> more than R10 billion a year for national government, according to Treasury.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treasury\u2019s comment period was extended to the end of February 2026 to give the public and the industry more time to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ALSO READ:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/south-african-gambling-regulations\/\">South African Gambling Regulations Explained<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-777053198\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Government Wants To Tax Online Gambling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Online Betting Has Exploded<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smartphones, cheap data and the growth of betting apps since COVID-19 mean people can now gamble almost anywhere, at any time. According to the National Gambling Board (NGB), as reported by Business Day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>South Africa\u2019s gross gambling revenue reached about <strong>R75 billion<\/strong> in 2024\/25.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Online betting<\/strong> made up about <strong>60%<\/strong> of that, roughly R47 billion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Betting revenue grew by <strong>45,7%<\/strong> in a year, while casinos (down 4,1%) and bingo (down 8,6%) declined.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advisory firm Forvis Mazars, citing industry figures, says online betting now accounts for more than 85% of betting revenue, and total gambling turnover (the total amount wagered) has reached about R1,5 trillion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Social Cost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treasury says the tax is mainly about reducing harm, not just raising money. Its discussion paper argues that \u201cproblem gambling imposes a cost on society\u201d, and that it\u2019s therefore in the public interest to regulate or reduce it. Recreational gamblers, it says, don\u2019t place the same costs on society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s growing concern about people, especially young and low-income South Africans, turning to betting as a quick way to make money. During debate on the proposal, Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana put it this way: \u201cno nation has ever gambled itself to prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Online Gambling Is Taxed Now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gambling is regulated by both national and provincial governments, and provinces collect gambling taxes. According to Forvis Mazars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Online sports betting<\/strong> is taxed at about <strong>6% to 9%<\/strong> of GGR by provinces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Casinos<\/strong> pay about <strong>10% to 15%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Licensed bookmakers also pay VAT. The industry says provincial taxes and VAT together already add up to about <strong>18% to 19%<\/strong> of gross gaming revenue. Adding the proposed 20% national tax would push the total much higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Online casino games are still illegal in South Africa under national law, but many offshore sites still accept South African players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-777053198\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What The Industry Says<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The online gambling industry has pushed back strongly. Its main arguments are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It could be unconstitutional,<\/strong> because gambling taxation is partly a provincial matter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It could push punters offshore.<\/strong> Higher taxes on licensed operators could lower payouts or make offers less attractive, driving players to illegal, unregulated websites that pay no tax and offer no player protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It\u2019s a double layer.<\/strong> Operators already pay provincial taxes and VAT.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Forvis Mazars points to <strong>Kenya<\/strong>, where a 20% levy on wagers led some operators to leave the market, and tax revenue fell. Note that Kenya taxed the amount wagered, while South Africa\u2019s proposal is based on GGR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Big Questions Treasury Must Answer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before February, Treasury needs to settle several key design questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Who pays?<\/strong> Will the tax be charged on operators, or deducted by payment providers such as banks?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How does it fit with provincial taxes?<\/strong> Will provinces lose out, or will the systems be aligned?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can it be enforced?<\/strong> How will government stop activity moving to offshore and crypto-based gambling sites?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Will it reduce harm?<\/strong> Or will it simply push problem gamblers to unregulated platforms?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Is a national licensing model needed?<\/strong> Treasury has suggested one may be needed to avoid a fragmented system.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Gambling Changes In The Pipeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tax is one of several moves to tighten gambling rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A new gambling Bill:<\/strong> the National Gambling Policy Council has resolved to fast-track a Bill to deal with gambling challenges, building on the 2018 National Gambling Amendment Bill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advertising rules:<\/strong> Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says regulations on gambling advertising are being developed alongside the Bill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Industry standards:<\/strong> the Advertising Regulatory Board has also tightened its rules on responsible gambling advertising.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-777053198\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means For Gauteng Punters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For now, <strong>nothing changes<\/strong>. The tax has not been finalised, and any changes would only be announced in February 2027 and take effect after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the tax goes ahead as proposed, it would be charged on operators rather than on your winnings directly. But betting companies could pass some of the cost on, for example through lower odds, smaller bonuses or fewer promotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gamble Responsibly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Only use licensed operators.<\/strong> Licensed sites display their provincial gambling board licence. Illegal sites offer no protection if something goes wrong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Set a budget and stick to it.<\/strong> Never gamble with money meant for rent, food, transport or school fees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Treat betting as entertainment,<\/strong> not a way to make money.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use the tools available,<\/strong> such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get help if you need it.<\/strong> The National Responsible Gambling Programme offers free, confidential counselling on its toll-free helpline, 0800 006 008.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is There A New Online Gambling Tax In South Africa?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not yet. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enca.com\/news\/godongwana-signals-further-work-proposed-online-gambling-tax\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Treasury<\/a> has proposed a 20% national tax on gross gambling revenue from online betting. The final design will be announced in the February 2027 Budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Will Pay The Online Gambling Tax?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposal is aimed at gambling operators, not individual punters. However, operators could pass some of the cost on through lower odds or fewer promotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Is The Proposed Online Gambling Tax?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treasury has proposed 20% of gross gambling revenue, charged on top of existing provincial gambling taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will I Pay Tax On My Betting Winnings?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed tax isn\u2019t a tax on individual players\u2019 winnings. It would be charged on operators\u2019 gross gambling revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Money Could The Tax Raise?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treasury estimates the tax could raise more than R10 billion a year in additional revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Is Government Taxing Online Gambling?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treasury says the main goal is to curb the social harm caused by the rapid growth of online gambling, with additional revenue as a secondary benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Will The Online Gambling Tax Start?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No start date has been set. The final design will be announced in the February 2027 Budget, and implementation would come after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>South Africa\u2019s proposed national tax on online gambling is moving ahead. Government will announce the final design of the tax in the February 2027 Budget, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said this week. The tax was first proposed by National Treasury in November 2025, as a 20% tax on gross gambling revenue from online betting and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":43585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"Online Gambling,Online Gambling Tax,Enoch Godongwana,MTBPS 2026,Sports Betting","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"South Africa\u2019s proposed 20% online gambling tax will be finalised in the February 2027 Budget. Here\u2019s what\u2019s planned and what it means for punters.","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[2536,11492],"ppma_author":[11567],"class_list":["post-43584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-finance","tag-sars","tag-tax"],"authors":[{"term_id":11567,"user_id":7,"is_guest":0,"slug":"makhosazane","display_name":"Makhosazane","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/08ae8e4b9b86dbda0979f667ab20cfeaa3877eb672acde59c0901ed43e1c05ab?s=96&r=g","author_category":"1","first_name":"Makhosazane","last_name":"Jiyane","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":"As an SEO Content Editor with a background in journalism and digital media, I have a passion for crafting high-quality, engaging, and informative content that connects with audiences and ranks on search engines. I believe in the power of storytelling, data-driven insights, and digital innovation to transform how information is shared and consumed. Through my work, I strive to make a meaningful impact - one article at a time."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43584"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43587,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43584\/revisions\/43587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43584"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=43584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}