National Gambling Board (NGB). Last updated 2026-07-26.
National oversight body. Coordinates the nine provincial boards, maintains the register of licensed operators, publishes national gambling statistics, and hosts the verified-operators portal used to check whether a betting site is legal in South Africa.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | South Africa (national) |
| Head office | Silverton, Gauteng |
| Telephone | +27 10 003 3475 |
| Enquiries | info@ngb.org.za |
| Established | 1996 |
| Governing Act | National Gambling Act 7 of 2004 (as amended) |
| Official site | www.ngb.org.za |
What the NGB does
National oversight body. Coordinates the nine provincial boards, maintains the register of licensed operators, publishes national gambling statistics, and hosts the verified-operators portal used to check whether a betting site is legal in South Africa.
- Publish and maintain the national register of licensed gambling operators
- Publish annual national gambling statistics (National Gambling Statistics report)
- Oversee inter-provincial coordination and dispute resolution
- Host the National Central Electronic Monitoring System (CEMS)
- Advise the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on gambling policy
- Enforce compliance with the National Gambling Act at national level
Which operators it licenses
The NGB is not itself a licensor. Bookmaker and casino licences are issued by the nine provincial boards. The NGB aggregates their data.
How to verify a NGB licence
- Open the NGB verified operators portal at ngb.org.za.
- Search for the operator name or trading name.
- Read the licence number, provincial board of issue, and current status (active, suspended, or revoked).
- Cross-check against the licence number displayed in the operator's own website footer.
- If the licence number does not match, or the operator does not appear at all, treat the site as unlicensed until verified with the provincial board directly.
If the licence number in the operator footer does not match the NGB register, do not deposit. Use our licence verifier for a quick cross-check.
Fees, taxes, and levies
The NGB is funded by a combination of national appropriation and levies collected on behalf of the provincial boards. Operator licence fees are paid to the province of issue, not to the NGB.
Recent enforcement and policy
- 2026. NGB published concerns over inconsistencies in the verified-operators portal, prompting operators to submit corrected data.
- 2025. National Gambling Amendment Bill re-tabled in Parliament, expanding NGB oversight powers over online gambling.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NGB the same as a provincial board?
No. The NGB is a national coordinating body. Bookmaker and casino licences are issued by the nine provincial boards. The NGB aggregates operator data across all provinces.
How do I verify a South African bookmaker licence?
Use the NGB verified operators portal at ngb.org.za and cross-check the licence number against the operator's own website footer. If they do not match, verify with the provincial board of issue.
What does the NGB regulate directly?
The NGB regulates the National Central Electronic Monitoring System (CEMS) for limited payout machines, national gambling policy coordination, and the national register of operators.
Who do I complain to about a licensed operator?
Complaints go to the provincial board that issued the licence, not to the NGB. The NGB will refer you to the correct provincial authority.
Is offshore betting legal in South Africa?
No. Any operator without a South African provincial licence is unlicensed. The National Gambling Act prohibits residents from placing bets with unlicensed operators.