South African Regulators Unite on Gambling Advertising
The National Gambling Board and Advertising Regulatory Board have signed an agreement to oversee digital gambling promotions.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Gambling
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The National Gambling Board and the Advertising Regulatory Board have formalised a new memorandum of understanding to regulate gambling advertisements. This framework targets promotions across social media, websites, and influencer marketing to improve oversight of digital content.
Why it matters
Digital gambling advertisements have increasingly shifted into private channels like Telegram and WhatsApp, creating a need for clearer cross-agency cooperation. This partnership establishes a formal route for sharing information and managing complaints regarding gambling operators.
The agreement covers digital marketing channels including websites and social feeds. TikTok reported proactive identification of 99.9% of removed content in Q4 2025, with 98.4% of prohibited material taken down within 24 hours.
The players
National Gambling Board
This is a South African regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the gambling industry and ensuring compliance with national legislation.
Advertising Regulatory Board
This is an independent body that administers the Code of Advertising Practice to regulate content across the advertising industry.
TikTok
This is a global social media platform that allows users to create, share, and discover short-form video content.
The details
The memorandum enables joint monitoring and complaint referrals between the National Gambling Board and the Advertising Regulatory Board. It applies to advertising practitioners and media owners who operate within the digital space, focusing on both local and cross-border gambling operators.
Timeline
The memorandum of understanding was signed during the week of 15 October 2026.
TikTok removed over one million videos in South Africa during Q4 2025.
The SA Influencer Report data collection period occurred in 2024.
Culture Shift
This partnership mirrors the shift toward regulating digital-first advertising environments that move faster than traditional media laws. The agreement formalises enforcement in social feeds where influencer marketing and gambling promotions have become increasingly intertwined.
Consumers can expect more consistent enforcement against misleading gambling promotions appearing in social media feeds and influencer content. This move creates a streamlined process for the public to submit complaints regarding predatory or illegal digital advertisements.
The takeaway
This new regulatory oversight demonstrates a growing focus on the accountability of digital platforms and influencers in the gambling sector. Residents should remain vigilant about the promotions they see in social feeds, as the new framework is designed to curb content that targets minors or violates national standards.
Further reading
For more on the industry, visit South Africa Gambling.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IOL.
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Do you believe influencers should be held responsible for the gambling promotions they share online?
