National Treasury proposes 20% national tax on online gambling revenue.

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GUEST: Mpho Legote, Director for VAT & Subnational Tax, National Treasury

South Africa’s online gambling boom has exploded and so have the risks.

National Treasury has proposed a new 20% national tax on online gambling revenue, on top of existing provincial levies pushing the total burden to as high as 29%. The goal? To curb rising addiction and the social fallout from always-on, anywhere-accessible betting.

The tax could raise more than R10 billion, but Treasury insists this is not about revenue, it’s about discouraging harmful gambling behaviour and closing regulatory gaps in a sector where technology is moving faster than the law.
27 Nov 2025 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

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