November is National Responsible Gambling Month, and the South African Bookmakers' Association (SABA) is using it to push one habit: check who holds the licence before you deposit, TechFinancials reported on 2 November. Licensed South African bookmakers must show the licence holder's name, licence details and the provincial authority that issued the licence.
SABA's three checks
- Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and find the South African licence holder, its bookmaker licence details and the provincial regulator.
- Verify it. A Curaçao or Malta licence does not allow an operator to take bets in South Africa. If in doubt, check with the provincial board or the NGB verified operators portal.
- If you still are not sure, do not deposit. A .co.za address or rand payments prove nothing.
"An international gambling licence does not authorise an operator to offer gambling services in South Africa," said SABA chief executive Sean Coleman. Under Section 16 of the National Gambling Act, winnings from unlawful gambling can be forfeited to the State. More than R3 million has reportedly been forfeited, including about R775,000 in 2025/26 and R2.3 million early in 2026/27, according to TechFinancials.
Limpopo's campaign dates
| District | Dates | Towns |
|---|---|---|
| Capricorn | 2 to 6 November | Polokwane, Bochum |
| Waterberg | 9 to 11 November | Lephalale, Bela-Bela, Mokopane |
| Mopani | 16 to 18 November | Tzaneen, Phalaborwa, Namakgale, Giyani |
| Sekhukhune and Vhembe | 24 to 26 November | Burgersfort, Steelpoort, Groblersdal, Musina, Thohoyandou, Malamulele |
The schedule is from Focus Gaming News. The Limpopo Gambling Board will visit licensed casinos, bookmakers and other venues. It is warning people not to gamble with social grants, student funding or household money, and it is taking part in Illegal Gambling Awareness Week from 9 to 13 November.
What it means for you
Run the three checks on any site before your first deposit; our legal guide explains how provincial licensing works. SABA's last point matters too: set a spending limit and do not chase losses. Help is free on 0800 006 008, 24 hours a day.