South Africa's National Gambling Board has requested the communications ministry to implement an IP-based block on offshore gambling websites. The measure specifically targets operators licensed in Curaçao, the Philippines, Gibraltar, and Malta.
The proposed restriction affects approximately R50bn (~$2.7bn), which accounts for two-thirds of the nation's total gambling revenue. Online casino services currently operate without legal status in South Africa, meaning licences issued by the targeted jurisdictions do not confer official market access. The network-level block aims to eliminate this unregulated operating environment.
Because the filtering mechanism functions at the infrastructure level, alternative mirror domains will only provide temporary access measured in weeks rather than months. Market participants must evaluate their licensing frameworks against actual player locations before the restriction takes effect. The licensing discussion coincides with the iGB LIVE London conference, scheduled for 1 and 2 July, where industry representatives will address regulatory compliance and jurisdictional alignment for African markets.