South Africans placed R1.14 trillion in wagers in 2023/24, which translated into R59.3 billion in gross gambling revenue. That’s a strong 25.7% rise on the previous year, showing how quickly the industry is expanding and how visible it’s become in everyday spending.
Betting now drives the market. Betting accounts for about 60.5% of industry revenue (≈R35.9 bn), making it the biggest slice of the pie. Casinos contribute 29.3% (≈R17.4 bn), while LPMs (limited payout machines) add 7.0% and bingo 3.2%. The year’s growth was powered mainly by betting, which jumped sharply year‑on‑year, while casino revenue was largely flat.
Online is the big mover. Most betting now happens on licensed online platforms rather than at retail shops. Looking across all forms of gambling, roughly half of overall activity is estimated to be online. Independent analyses also place South Africa near the top globally for monthly online‑gambling participation among internet users (16+), and among the largest markets in Africa—even if SA is smaller than the US or UK in pure dollar terms. Convenience (phones, instant deposits, live markets) keeps pulling more punters online.
Where it’s busiest—and what government gets. The Western Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga together make up about three‑quarters of national revenue, with the Western Cape now the single biggest provincial market. Provinces collected roughly R4.84 billion in gambling taxes and levies in 2023/24, providing a steady boost to public finances.
Know the rules.Online sports betting with provincially licensed operators is legal in South Africa. However, online casino and poker (so‑called “interactive gambling”) remain illegal under the National Gambling Act. Please gamble responsibly and set firm limits.