Why Treasury wants the tax
- Online gambling has exploded in South Africa and is now a major public health concern, with gambling accessible anywhere, anytime.
- National Treasury says that betting has become normalised due to heavy promotion in sports and entertainment.
- Gambling addiction is rising sharply.
Scale of gambling in SA (2024/25)
- R1.5 trillion wagered across the industry
- 31.3% year‑on‑year growth
- Betting = 75% of total turnover (R1.126 trillion)
- Casinos = 19.5%
- Over the past 5 years:
- All gambling modes grew
- Betting revenue grew 390%
- Gross gambling revenue reached R51.97 billion
What Treasury is proposing
- A new 20% national tax on gross gambling revenue from online betting, including interactive gambling.
- This is in addition to provincial taxes, pushing the total effective tax to 26–29%.
- Expected to generate over R10 billion for the national government at current revenue levels.
Purpose of the tax
Treasury says:
- The goal is not mainly to raise revenue.
- It is intended as a “sin tax” to discourage harmful gambling behaviour (similar to alcohol and tobacco taxes).
Deadline for public comments
- Extended from 30 January 2026 → 27 February 2026
- Email submissions: gamblingtax@treasury.gov.za
