Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER). Last updated 2026-07-26.

Q: How do I complain about a Mpumalanga-licensed bookmaker?

Complaints are lodged in writing at info@mer.org.za. Include the operator name, licence number, your account number (never your password), and copies of any relevant screenshots.

Written by Nigel Crouse, Fact-checked by Brad Mostert. Last updated 2026-07-26.

The Mpumalanga Economic Regulator is the provincial licensor for bookmakers, casinos, LPMs and bingo in Mpumalanga. Despite the province's smaller population, MER has become the province of primary licence for several of South Africa's largest online-first bookmakers, including Hollywoodbets, Supabets, Betway, 10bet and PlayaBets. MER-issued bookmaker licences follow the '9-2-1-XXXXX' format printed in operator footers.

Key facts

Jurisdiction	Mpumalanga
Head office	Nelspruit (Mbombela), Mpumalanga
Telephone	+27 13 741 1000
Enquiries	info@mer.org.za
Established	2015
Governing Act	Mpumalanga Gaming Act 5 of 1995 (as amended) and Mpumalanga Economic Regulator Act (2014)
Official site	www.mer.org.za

What the MER does

Issue and renew bookmaker, casino, LPM, and bingo licences in Mpumalanga
Investigate complaints against Mpumalanga-licensed operators
Enforce responsible gambling and self-exclusion in the province
Collect provincial gambling tax and levies
Enforce FICA and anti-money-laundering compliance on licensees
Coordinate with the National Gambling Board on cross-provincial complaints

Which operators it licenses

How to verify a MER licence

Open the MER website at mer.org.za.
Navigate to the Licensees section and select the bookmaker or casino category.
Search by operator name or by the '9-2-1-XXXXX' licence number.
Confirm the operator status is 'Active' and note the expiry date.
Cross-check the licence number against the operator's own website footer. If they do not match, do not deposit.

If the licence number in the operator footer does not match the MER register, do not deposit. Use our licence verifier for a quick cross-check.

Fees, taxes, and levies

Bookmaker licence application and renewal fees in Mpumalanga are set by provincial regulation. Provincial gambling tax on bookmaker gross gaming revenue is collected by MER and remitted to the Mpumalanga fiscus, with rates reviewed each budget cycle.

Recent enforcement and policy

2026. MER continued licensing several major online-first bookmakers under the 9-2-1 licence-number series.
2025. Coordinated enforcement with the National Gambling Board against unlicensed offshore brands accepting Mpumalanga customers.

Frequently asked questions

Which national bookmakers are Mpumalanga-licensed?

Per each operator's own footer verified on 2026-07-26: Hollywoodbets (Hollywood Sportsbook Mpumalanga (Pty) Ltd, licence 9-2-1-00051), Supabets (Portapa 2 (Pty) Ltd, 9-2-1-00055), Betway (Eastern Dawn Sports (Pty) Ltd, 9-2-1-09658), 10bet (Edcobrite (Pty) Ltd, 9-2-1-09661), and PlayaBets (Playabets MP (Pty) Ltd, 9-2-1-09689). Sunbet also holds a secondary Mpumalanga licence (9-2-1-09789) alongside its Western Cape primary.

What does a Mpumalanga bookmaker licence number look like?

Mpumalanga bookmaker licences use the format '9-2-1-XXXXX', where the trailing digits are the operator's unique reference. The full licence number is disclosed in each operator's website footer.

How do I complain about a Mpumalanga-licensed bookmaker?

Complaints are lodged in writing at [email protected]. Include the operator name, licence number, your account number (never your password), and copies of any relevant screenshots.

Does MER regulate online casinos?

No. Online casino gambling remains prohibited nationally under the National Gambling Act. MER licenses land-based casinos, bookmakers who may offer online sports betting, and LPMs.

Are MER-licensed operators legal for players from other provinces?

Yes. A bookmaker licensed by MER may accept bets from any South African resident, subject to national law and its licence conditions.

Reviewed by our compliance desk. Sources: MER official site, National Gambling Act 7 of 2004, and operator licence footers verified on 2026-07-26. See our Sources Used page for the full list.