South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana told parliament on October 21, while presenting the medium-term budget policy statement, that the final parameters of the national online gambling tax will be announced when the budget is tabled in February 2027. He did not give the rate or the start date.
The National Treasury's proposal remains unchanged: 20% of gross gaming revenue (GGR) from online betting, including interactive games. It was published in a discussion document in 2025, and for now it is only a proposal, not law. The tax would be levied on the difference between accepted stakes and paid winnings, rather than on turnover.
According to Godongwana, consultations continue on three issues: how the tax is structured, its link to current regulation, and its implications for provinces and the legal market. He also noted that the feedback received generally recognises the need to respond to the growth of online gambling and the harm associated with it.
What remains unknown: whether the 20% rate will stay, whether it will have exemptions or tiers, what date the tax will take effect, and how it will be shared with provinces that regulate the gambling market. No public statements answer these questions.
For operators and affiliate programmes in the South African market, this means roughly four more months of uncertainty. For assessing the burden, the only available calculation uses the proposed rate: with annual GGR of R100 million, a 20% tax would be R20 million. This is arithmetic, not a forecast: it does not account for provincial levies or other payments.
The next milestone is the budget speech in February 2027. If the parameters change, that is where it will be announced.
