Mobile sports betting is taking a larger share of South Africa’s gambling market, according to new data from Discovery Bank and Visa, adding fresh weight to concerns over how quickly digital wagering is expanding in one of Africa’s biggest betting economies.
The latest SpendTrend26 report says three quarters of surveyed South Africans had placed a bet in the past year, with 52% betting online only and a further 7% using both digital and in person channels. It also found that around 80% of sports betting activity now takes place on digital platforms.
Discovery said the findings were based on card transaction data and a survey of more than 1,000 South Africans earning over R100,000 a year.
The shift is part of a broader market transformation. In 2010, casinos accounted for 84% of South Africa’s gambling market, while betting represented 10%, according to Discovery’s report. That balance has since reversed, with online sports betting now overtaking casino spend.
Official market data already pointed in the same direction. South Africa’s GGR reached about R75bn (US$4.3bn) in the 2024/25 fiscal year, with total turnover of roughly R1.5tn. Betting generated the majority of this revenue, while casinos accounted for a much smaller share.
The acceleration in mobile play is also feeding a wider policy debate. South Africa’s Treasury has proposed a 20% national tax on GGR, a move it says could raise more than R10bn annually, while industry groups argue the burden would be heavy once provincial taxes and VAT are included.
For operators, the Discovery findings underline how quickly the South African market is moving towards a mobile first model. For regulators and policymakers, they strengthen the case that gambling oversight can no longer be built around casinos and retail betting shops alone. The market is now centred on the phone, and the next phase of regulation is likely to reflect that.
