South Africa Extends Public Comment Deadline on Proposed Online Gambling Tax

On 9 January 2026, we reported that the South African Treasury was proposing a 20% online gambling tax. Now South Africa’s National Treasury has extended the deadline for public comments on its draft national online gambling tax discussion paper. The consultation was originally due to close on 30 January 2026, but Treasury says it has received multiple requests for more time. The new deadline is now 27 February 2026. 

What changed and why it matters

The public now has more time to send feedback on the draft online gambling tax paper. Treasury says it extended the consultation period after receiving requests from stakeholders who wanted extra time to review the proposals and prepare submissions.
This gives operators, industry bodies, and consumer groups more time to respond to the details, rather than rushing a position.

Dates at a glance

What the paper suggests could happen next

While this is still a consultation process, the discussion paper sets out the type of national tax the Treasury is considering. It proposes a national tax rate of 20% on gross gambling revenue from online gambling activity. The paper also notes that this would be in addition to provincial gambling taxes, which means the total tax burden could be higher once combined.

At this stage, none of this is final. The point of the process is to gather feedback before government decides whether to proceed or not.

What casinos and players should watch

For the casinos, the big question is how a national tax would be applied in practice and how it would interact with existing provincial tax rules. A major issue in any tax change is whether costs are absorbed by the casinos or passed on to the players.
For players, the impact is usually indirect. If a higher tax leads casinos to adjust bonus offers or limits, players may notice changes in odds or bonuses. 

What happens after 27 February 2026?

Once the comment period closes, Treasury will consider submissions and decide what to do next. That could include refining the proposal, releasing a further policy update, or moving toward a formal legislative pathway if the government decides to proceed.

In the meantime, the extension gives the industry and the public a clearer window to respond to one of the most significant tax discussions affecting online betting and other online gambling activity in South Africa.