South Africa regulator shuts down ‘unsupported’ media claims

South Africa’s regulator, the National Gambling Board (NGB), has hit back at public criticism of its recently-launched licensed operators’ whitelist portal.

The authority labeled recent media reports about the accuracy of its portal, which launched early last month, as “speculative and unsupported”.

In particular, the NGB referenced apparent comments made about the registry’s Limited Payout Machines (LPMs) section, which lists gambling machines located outside of traditional casinos in venues like clubs, hotels, and pubs.

While it is difficult to comment with certainty about these media reports, as the NGB did not link directly to them, SBC News understands that certain LPMs were verified as licensed while having the word ‘closed’ next to them – which might have led to some confusion about their legality.

“It is incorrect to assume that the mere appearance of the word ‘CLOSED’ indicates regulatory failure or that the premises are unlawfully operating gambling activities,” the NGB ..