Key Moments
- South Africa’s gambling turnover reached R1.5 trillion ($86 billion) in 2024/25, up from R1.1 trillion in 2023/24
- Online betting made up 60% of gross gambling revenue, with betting overall generating R52.3 billion
- Casino revenue declined by 4.1% as online slots continued to gain traction among players
Gambling Turnover Soars on Strength of Digital Wagers
The National Gambling Board (NGB) has reported that the total gambling turnover in South Africa climbed to R1.5 trillion ($86 billion) for the 2024/25 financial year. This figure marks a considerable increase from the R1.1 trillion posted in 2023/24, reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape of the country’s gambling sector.
Presented to the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition on October 15, 2025, the NGB’s data reveals that online betting is the primary driver of this growth, accounting for 60% of South Africa’s gross gambling revenue (GGR).
Gross gambling revenue reached R75 billion ($4.3 billion) during this period, outpacing the R59.3 billion reported the previous year. Betting, including online betting, accounted for approximately 70% of this sum, totaling R52.3 billion. Casinos generated R16.6 billion ($951.3 million) in GGR, which represented 22% of the overall total.
Slumping Casino Performance as Digital Play Expands
The NGB noted a 4.1% drop in casino-based revenue from the previous year. This decline was connected to a reduction in the number of operational slot machines and tables in licensed venues. There were 21,813 operational slot machines in 2023/24, falling to 21,370 in 2024/25 – a 2% decrease. The number of active tables fell from 910 to 890 over the same period. The NGB attributed these changes to the increasing preference for online slots, which have drawn players away from physical casino locations.
Other Gambling Sectors Record Steady Performance
Limited Payout Machines (LPMs) contributed R4.1 billion ($235 million), securing their position as the third largest segment. Bingo followed with R1.7 billion ($97.4 million) in GGR. The NGB noted that a shift towards digital gambling platforms began during the 2020/21 financial year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, betting has overtaken casinos in predominance and digital avenues continue to enlarge access to betting nationwide.
Economic Impact: Employment and Tax Contributions
The gambling sector remains a major source of employment, supporting 33,169 direct jobs along with more than 144,000 indirect jobs across South Africa. In 2024/25, total taxes and levies from gambling activities reached R5.8 billion ($332.4 million), with the Western Cape contributing the most to these collections. However, the NGB highlighted the ever-present challenge of consumer financial pressure, noting significant portions of disposable income are spent on gambling.
Gambling’s Entrenchment in South African Households
Findings from Old Mutual’s Savings and Investments Monitor for 2025 indicate that 52% of working South Africans participate in gambling, with the majority being men aged 30 to 49. Frequent gambling, defined in the report as gambling often, involved 40% of working individuals who often seek to cover expenses or pay off debt.
Sports betting led the list of gambling activities at 61%, followed by lotto at 53% and slots at 52%. More than 60% of gamblers reported gambling at least every week, and nearly 40% do so even more often. Approximately 10% acknowledged daily gambling.
| Segment | GGR (R billion) | GGR (USD million) | Share of Total GGR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betting (incl. Online) | 52.3 | – | ~70% |
| Casinos | 16.6 | 951.3 | 22% |
| Limited Payout Machines (LPMs) | 4.1 | 235 | – |
| Bingo | 1.7 | 97.4 | – |
Intensifying Focus on Problem Gambling
The NGB recorded a national gambling participation rate of 65.7% during the 2024/25 financial year. The board also noted a 31% prevalence of “problem gambling” over the same period, indicating a sizable population at risk for adverse gambling behaviors.
According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), gambling now represents almost 55% of household spending in the recreation, sport, and culture category, and accounts for 1.6% of all household expenditure. It ranked twelfth in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket, just behind beer. The recreation, sport, and culture category as a whole carries a 2.86% weight in the CPI, with gambling comprising over half that segment.
Balancing Growth and Responsibility
With a gambling turnover of R1.5 trillion ($86.5 billion), South Africa’s industry is undergoing dramatic transformation fueled by the rise of online betting. While the market brings employment and sizable tax contributions, it has also raised pressing concerns about both social and financial risks. Regulatory authorities are increasingly tasked with safeguarding responsible gambling practices amid strong sector expansion.
- Author
Daniel Williams
