March 27, 2025

How many South Africans are making the switch to online gambling?

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the global gambling landscape has witnessed a historic shift. Globally, by the end of 2024, the global online gambling market has seen an astonishing R2 trillion in revenue. In South Africa, over the past five years, the online gambling sector has overtaken traditional gambling.

Several factors have contributed to the exponential growth in online gambling in South Africa, including accessibility, advertising, costs of living, convenience, unemployment rates, and the shift in entertainment purposes.

In this guide, our MDC team have explored the current climate of the online gambling market in South Africa and discussed the reasons behind the shift and what the future has in store for this thriving industry.

Growth of Online Gambling in South Africa

According to the latest statistics published by Horizon Grand View Research, the South African online gambling industry is expected to grow by 9% annually between 2023-2024.

The National Gambling Board (NGB) – the South African national regulator – released statistics on all gambling activities for 2023-2024 in recent months. The key findings from the report showed that traditional casinos have seen Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) rise from R17.5 billion in 2023 to R18.8 billion in 2024.

However, these figures are dwarfed by the country’s rise in online gambling. The GGR for all online gambling amounted to R59.3 billion in 2024. Over the past ten years, the gap between traditional gambling and online gambling has not only been closed but has spread into a cavity that has seen unparalleled revenue for online gambling activities.

Of the R59.3 billion in GGR for 2024, online sports betting contributed over 60% of the revenue, with a 25.7% increase from 2023. Previously, any form of gambling, both traditional and online, was viewed as taboo, but today, the online gambling sector is a major player in South Africa’s tax position. The latest statistics from the NGB report showed that for 2024, online gambling contributed R4.84 billion in tax revenue for the county.

Technology is a key contributor to the rise of online gambling. All ZA online casinos and betting sites have adopted an aggressive push for implementing comprehensive mobile-optimized platforms. This trend has seen the top-rated South African online casinos and sportsbooks introduce mobile apps, data-free applications, and mobile payment systems, resulting in enhanced internet penetration.

Demographics of Online Gamblers

In terms of the African continent, South African gamblers bet more than half of the aggregate of the other 53 African countries. South Africa has the highest GGR and total spent on wagers from all African countries, and these figures are expected to grow annually.

Compared to traditional gambling, more online gamblers are visiting online casinos and sportsbooks than there are those entering brick-and-mortar casinos. According to the NGB report, South Africans spent R1.1 trillion on online gambling in 2024, 40% more than in 2023.

According to the latest findings released by Statistics South Africa, the latest unemployed statistics in South Africa have seen the number of unemployed young people (18-34) climb to 5 million by 2024. Due to these high numbers, we have seen the biggest group of gamblers are those aged 18-34. These individuals are placing sports wagers and playing online casino games daily, sometimes spending around 6 hours a day on online gambling activities.

On the other end of the scale are the ‘problem gamblers’ and ‘pathological or compulsive gamblers’. ‘Problem gamblers’ are in the vast minority of online gamblers, with the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation stating that 2.7% of online gamblers are classified as ‘problem gamblers.’ While 1.5% of the online gambling population of South Africa are considered ‘pathological or compulsive gamblers’.

Popular Online Gambling Activities

By the end of 2024, sports betting is still the leading form of online gambling in Mzansi, with bettors wagering over R420 billion in 2023 and R480 billion in 2024. Playing at online casinos has also seen a rise over the years, and by 2030, forecasts have projected that casino players will spend an average of R150 billion per year.

Traditional online gambling activities, such as the National Lottery, have seen a constant trend of players. While not at the levels of sports betting or casino games, the national lottery, such as playing the Lotto and Powerball, has raked record-breaking sales of close to R7.3 billion for 2024.

All these forms of online gambling are gaining traction due to a multitude of factors, including the rising unemployment rates in South Africa, the rising food prices, and the rising cost of living. Despite inflation having dropped in recent months, and at the start of 2025, the rise of online gambling activities is growing exponentially.

Reasons Behind the Shift to Online Gambling

Convenience has played a pivotal role in the shift from traditional gambling to online gambling. Unlike physical casinos, online casinos do not have dress codes or playing hours. You can play at any time, dressed anyhow and with any device.

Anonymity is also a priority for most players, and by betting at online sportsbooks and playing at online casinos, you don’t have to interact with anyone. No one can put a picture on your face, and your private details are confidential.

Advertising has been a major role player in the online gambling sector ever since the pandemic in 2020. Today, in South Africa, there are hundreds of daily betting adverts throughout the day and night from South Africa’s online casino sites.

Several celebrities and influencers have also entered partnerships with leading online casino ZA sites, and sports stars such as Eben Etzebeth and Teko Modise have become brand ambassadors for renowned South African betting brands.

The growth of bonuses and promotions is also very appealing to online bettors. In South Africa, whether you are watching a TV show and seeing a betting advert, or browsing the internet and seeing a betting pop-up ad, there are several appealing bonuses such as R50 sign-up bonus offers, which don’t break the bank. From match bonuses to free spins and free bets, these sign-up bonuses have managed to draw thousands of new players to online casinos ZA.

Technological Advancements Driving Online Gambling

Technology advancements have enhanced user experiences, which in turn has driven the growth of online gambling. Our South African online casinos list only includes licensed and regulated sites with encrypted banking platforms. Thus ensuring secure payment gateways and boosting consumer trust.

The best online casinos in South Africa and sportsbooks have comprehensive mobile-optimized betting sites. Thanks to mobile websites, mobile casinos, and mobile apps, players can place sports bets and play casino games from anywhere and anytime.

The introduction of live streaming and live betting has also been a game changer in the online gambling sector. With live streaming technology, sports bettors can follow the real-time action of their sports bets while watching how the game unfolds directly on the betting platform.

Regulation and Legal Challenges

The National Gambling Board is the regulator of the South African gambling industry. Under their stewardship, the nine provincial regulators, such as the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, provide licenses to South African sportsbooks. Through these licenses, sportsbooks can offer players additional online casino products.

As long as gambling sites have a provincial license from one of the country’s regulators, they can legally operate as an online betting platform in South Africa. The NBG and relevant local regulators and stakeholders face increasing control challenges from ‘grey’ casinos, which are not legal nor licensed to operate in the country. These sites are not safe for South Africans, and the NGB urges all players not to spend their money on these online sites.

The Future of Online Gambling in South Africa

The latest projected trends and forecasts have shown there is even more growth to come for online gambling. While traditional gambling establishments will still show growth, their revenue has stopped growing exponentially.

Thanks to technological developments and the impending changes in local legislation, the future of online gambling will continue to thrive in South Africa and play a crucial role in government financial reserves and some player’s standard of living.