Name: African states hike gambling taxes as addiction soars
Uploaded: 2026-03-19T08:09:29.107Z
Duration: 3 min 5 s
Description: South Africa is weighing a bill that would hike taxes on gambling winnings as the numbers of adults placing bets climbs, and signs of harmful addiction grow. But the bookmaking industry is pushing back, and addiction advocates say one cannot treat addiction through taxation.

South Africa is weighing a bill that would hike taxes on gambling winnings as the numbers of adults placing bets climbs, and signs of harmful addiction grow. But the bookmaking industry is pushing back, and addiction advocates say one cannot treat addiction through taxation.

Dakar

A sharp increase in online gambling participation has been reported across Africa, with South Africa leading the continent. According to regulators, two-thirds of South African adults now engage in online gambling, and the total amount wagered reached over $93 billion in the 2024-2025 financial year. This growth has been accompanied by a significant rise in gambling addiction, with distress calls to helplines increasing by more than two-thirds over the past year.

In response, governments such as South Africa and Senegal have introduced higher taxes on gambling, aiming to both discourage betting and boost public revenues. However, industry representatives and addiction specialists argue that increased taxation may not effectively address the root causes of gambling addiction and could push more gamblers toward illegal markets.

African states hike gambling taxes as addiction soars

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