US EditionAfrican states hike gambling taxes as addiction soars, and industry fights back
The proposed 20% tax aims to double sector revenue to 10 billion rand and reduce problem gambling, with helpline calls up over two thirds last year, officials said.
- This year, the National Treasury proposed a 20% national tax on online gambling profits, projecting sector tax revenues to rise to 10 billion rand from 4.8 billion, with a final proposal due February 2027.
- Rising online gambling has led to a surge in distress calls and treatments, with over 4,600 treated last year, Sibongile Simelane-Quntana said.
- Industry groups urged against the proposed tax, with the South African Bookmakers' Association, representing a quarter of 400 bookmakers, calling for crackdowns on illegal sites instead.
- The Treasury said the national tax would raise total gambling tax rates to up to 29%, with some parliamentary political parties supporting the proposal, while Lonase did not respond.
- In Senegal, support groups warn taxation alone will not help addicted players, as three months ago, Senegal added gambling taxes to its economic recovery plan.
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African governments tackle online gambling
African governments are imposing restrictions on online betting amid growing fears of a rise in gambling addiction on the continent. South Africa’s gambling industry regulator estimates that around two-thirds of adults engage in online bets, more than double 2017 levels. In response, Pretoria has proposed a 20% tax on online gambling profits, a move that could also boost government coffers. Malawi and Zimbabwe have recently imposed similar restr…
African nations raise gambling taxes amid rising addiction
As a boom in online gambling across Africa gathers pace, governments are hiking taxes to contain addiction risks and fill depleted state coffers. In by far the biggest market of South Africa, the industry is pushing back.
African states hike gambling taxes as addiction soars, and industry fights back
As a boom in online gambling across Africa gathers pace, governments are hiking taxes to contain addiction risks and fill depleted state coffers. In by far the biggest market of South Africa, the industry is pushing back.
African states hike gambling taxes as addiction soars - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.
A boom in gambling and particularly online gambling is sweeping Africa. The biggest market in the continent is South Africa, where the industry regulator estimates that two-thirds of adults engage in online gambling. That’s up from 30% in 2017. Statistics from the National Gambling Board show South Africans wagered a record 1.5 trillion rand, more than $93 billion, in the 2024-25 financial year. And alongside that surge is an alarming rise in ga…
Gambling surge strains retirement savings and prompts tax response – Moonstone Information Refinery
Rising levels of gambling among South African employees are emerging as a clear indicator of growing financial stress, with implications for retirement outcomes, household spending patterns, and workplace performance. Recent findings from Old Mutual Corporate show that 40% of working South Africans now gamble frequently, often to bridge monthly shortfalls. At a national level, Statistics SA estimates that as much as 55% of recreational spending …
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