Sun International has warned that increased government regulation aimed at curbing irresponsible gambling poses a growing risk to its business, as online betting expands rapidly in South Africa and globally.
The growth of online gambling has intensified public concern about addiction, social harm and consumer protection. In South Africa, the betting industry generated about R1.5-trillion in turnover in financial 2025 about R400bn more than the previous period as many consumers sought alternative sources of income to cope with the high cost of living.
Regulators and policymakers have responded by tightening oversight of the sector. Proposed measures include the National Treasurys suggested 20 gaming tax on online bookmakers, the revival of the National Gambling Amendment Bill of 2018 by the National Gambling Board, and planned changes by the Advertising Regulatory Board ARB to its self-regulatory Gambling Advertising Code.
