The KwaZulu-Natal Bookmakers Control Committee is a regulatory body established by provincial statute to regulate bookmakers and manage betting rooms in the province of KwaZulu-Natal Natal as per the Ordinance (No.28 of 1957 (Section 21)).

THE BETTING MARKET IN SOUTH AFRICA

Punters have a choice of bet types and may take fixed-odds bets with bookmakers and totalisator or pool bets with a totalisator that is owned by a licensed racing club.
Bookmakers and totalisators currently offer their clients bets on local and international horse racing and on any sporting events.
There are twelve racecourses in the country of which three are situated in KwaZulu-Natal. Horse racing takes place seven days a week at these racecourses and additional television coverage is provided on horse racing in Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Dubai, with special feature races being telecast from the United Kingdom, Europe, USA, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Although betting in horse racing accounts form more than 90% of total betting turnover, the sports betting has experienced significant growth in the recent past, with turnovers in KwaZulu-Natal increasing at the rate of 38% annually over the past two years.

FAST FACTS ABOUT THE BOOKMAKER INDUSTRY IN KWAZULU NATAL
KwaZulu-Natal based Bookmakers

  • Make up one third of all licensed bookmakers in the country and there are currently 81 betting shops in KwaZulu-Natal.
  • They are spread throughout the province although half are located in the greater Durban area, others are situated in Scottsburgh, Port Shepstone, Margate, Ballito, Empangeni, Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg, Estcort and Newcastle.
  • Generate 40% of the total national turnover on fixed-odds betting.
  • Make a significant contribution to the provincial tax base.
  • Make a substantial contribution per capita per bookmaker to the national Treasury in value added tax, company and personal income tax.

TAX STRUCTURE

  • Betting tax is calculated at 6% on punters’ winnings.
  • Value added tax is calculated at 14% on a bookmaker’s net profit (inclusive of bookmaking operating expenses).
  • Company and personal taxes vary from individual to individual.

REGULATORY BODIES FOR GAMBLING IN SOUTH AFRICA

  • National Lotteries Board which licence's and regulates the national lottery.
  • National Gambling Board which determines policy and national norms and standards for gambling (excluding lotteries).
  • Provincial Gambling Boards which regulate all forms of gambling in their respective provinces, except in KwaZulu-Natal where the Gambling Board regulates the gambling industry (casinos, gaming machines outside of casinos and bingo) and the Bookmakers Control Committee regulates bookmakers and manages betting rooms.