KwaZulu-Natal's Finance Portfolio Committee held its first public hearing on the province's Gaming and Betting Tax Bill, 2026, in Pietermaritzburg on 10 November. The bill, tabled by Finance MEC Francois Rodgers in June, would revise taxes on casino gaming, bingo, bookmaking and horse racing and introduce additional levies.
Industry response
Goldrush Gaming Group executive Katleho Thejane warned lawmakers that proposed increases of more than 300% could put parts of the sector out of business. He said land-based bingo and casino operators were already facing pressure from post-pandemic costs, legal disputes and online competition. The provincial treasury expects the changes to raise between R50m and R100m annually.
Some of the proposed revenue would support a Gaming and Betting Transformation Fund for emerging operators, while horse-racing tax receipts would be reinvested in the equine sector. The bill remains under legislative consideration. Operators should monitor the hearing process for changes to rates, exemptions and the final scope of the new levies.