Compiled by Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos/images courtesy of Pixabay and Unsplash
South Africa’s gambling industry is a billion-rand powerhouse, fuelling the economy through jobs and taxes while luring millions with the promise of an easy fortune. But behind the glittering casino floors lies a darker truth: the same venues that entertain the public have also become prime targets for money laundering, turning a source of national revenue into a magnet for criminal networks.
Casinos in South Africa are facing intensified scrutiny over money laundering, as the country’s gambling sector grapples with growing criminal threats. While the industry includes traditional casinos, horse racing, sports betting, bingo and limited payout machines, sports betting remains the only form of online gambling legally permitted (McEwan, 2022). According to the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA), gambling is defined as: “A person who carries on the business of making available a gambling activity … in respect of which a licence is required to be issued by the National Gambling Board or a Provincial Licensing Authority” (FIC, 2023).
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: November 2025. This article is available for purchase.]