The South African province has proposed a new tax on casinos relocating to more profitable sites, with the Gambling and Racing Board seeking public input on the legislative changes
The Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB) has opened a public comment window on proposed changes to the province’s gambling legislation.
The draft bill would introduce a new economic opportunity tax targeting casinos that move from their current location to a site with stronger earning potential elsewhere in the province.
Liezel Hartman, the board’s manager of legal services, described the proposal as a money bill. Under the plan, the provincial government would raise the bid fee through this added tax, and any casino seeking to relocate to a more profitable area would be required to pay it before the move could proceed.
Board officials also used the announcement to draw a line between two forms of gambling that are often confused.
Online betting is legal in South Africa and falls under provincial regulation, while online gambling itself remains prohibited nationwide, the WCGRB confirmed.
WCGRB chief executive Primo Abrahams said national government officials are currently working through how online gambling might eventually be regulated, while provinces continue to license betting operators and track the expansion of online betting platforms in the meantime.
Abrahams pointed to a shift in how people are placing bets, noting that activity once tied to illegal platforms has moved toward regulated legal sites.
He added that people who previously could not reach a physical casino because of distance can now place bets from home through online betting platforms.
Members of the public have until July 19 to submit comments on the proposed amendments.