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The South African Bookmakers’ Association (SABA) has clarified its stance on the recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) concerning the case Portapa (Pty) Limited trading as Supabets against the Casino Association of South Africa.
This judgment, which also involves the Gauteng Gambling Board, was delivered on October 21, 2025, and has prompted significant discussion in the media.
Additionally, SABA has acknowledged the Media Release issued by the National Gambling Board on October 19, 2025, along with various reports circulating about the ruling.
Roulette and casino games are not banned, SABA declares
SABA feels it is important to clarify that the recent SCA ruling does not imply a ban on licensed bookmakers offering betting on roulette or any other casino games.
Despite various media reports suggesting otherwise, the court’s decision specifically indicates that bookmakers licensed in Gauteng cannot legally offer betting on roulette. This is due to the Gauteng Gambling Act, which defines betting activities for licensed bookmakers as applicable only to sporting events.
The SCA’s judgment rests on interpreting the term “sporting bet” as defined in the Gauteng Gambling Act, and does not extend to outlawing roulette betting or casino games across South Africa.
Bookmakers in other provinces operate under different regulations that may allow them to offer betting on a broader range of contingencies, given that those activities are lawful.
Reports claiming that all licensed bookmakers in South Africa are unlawfully offering betting on roulette or similar casino games, or that fixed odds betting on such games constitutes illegal interactive gambling, are incorrect.
SABA says online gambling regulation is a provincial matter
SABA emphasizes the importance of clearly communicating the legal status of online betting to the public. They assert that online betting offered by licensed bookmakers across the country does not qualify as interactive gambling under the National Gambling Act.
This Act specifies that a bet made by a licensed bookmaker is not considered a gambling game. Furthermore, it defines interactive gambling as games that can be played or accessed over the internet. Since fixed odds bets do not fall under the definition of gambling games, they cannot be classified as interactive gambling.
As a result, it is legal for bookmakers in South Africa to offer betting on games like roulette or other casino-style games, provided that the laws in their respective provinces do not prohibit such activities.
In Guateng, for instance, bookmakers are only allowed to offer bets on sporting events. While the recent court ruling should inform the public about its implications on online betting in Gauteng, it is equally crucial for bettors in other provinces to know that their engagement with licensed online bookmakers is lawful.
Source: iGaming AFRIKA
