In a recent interview, Mabutho Zwane, Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Cape Gambling Board and President of the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum, reflected on the role of regulation in supporting economic growth, protecting consumers and preparing the gaming sector for a more digital future.
Growth with local impact
For Zwane, the industry’s contribution must be measured beyond revenue alone. In the Eastern Cape, casinos, betting operators and LPM sites create direct jobs, while also supporting work in security, compliance, technology and facilities. The sector also brings business to local suppliers through procurement, tourism, infrastructure investment and enterprise development commitments.
“As regulators, our responsibility is not only to oversee compliance but to help shape a gaming sector that contributes positively to economic development while remaining socially responsible and sustainable,” Zwane told SiGMA News.
He added that licence conditions play an important role in ensuring that growth benefits local communities. These obligations include commitments linked to local hiring, community participation and social investment. Zwane said the Board’s role is to make sure that economic activity in the sector leads to “inclusive economic participation, sustainable investment, and measurable community impact”.
That same approach applies to public benefit. Taxes, levies and Corporate Social Investment commitments all help ensure that gaming revenue is not limited to operator profitability. Zwane said the Eastern Cape Gambling Board monitors these commitments closely, particularly where they relate to education, health, youth development and support for small businesses.
“Ultimately, sustainable growth must be matched by visible public benefit and community empowerment,” he said.
Keeping responsible gambling at the centre
A central theme of the interview was responsible gambling. Zwane described South Africa’s framework as “robust and multi-layered”, combining regulation, education, prevention and support services. Public awareness campaigns, self-exclusion programmes, mandatory operator measures and access to counselling all form part of this system.
“Responsible gambling must remain fundamental to all regulatory approaches,” he said. “Innovation and industry growth are only sustainable when they are matched by accountability, consumer protection, and strong governance.”
The Board assesses responsible gambling initiatives through data and engagement, including participation in self-exclusion programmes, complaint trends, public awareness activity, feedback from support organisations and research into intervention outcomes. Zwane stressed that the goal is not to stop people from gambling, but to ensure that those who are vulnerable are properly protected.
Regulating a digital industry
The interview also turned to the challenge of regulating a changing industry. Online betting, mobile platforms, digital payments and cross-border activity are reshaping the market at speed.
“The biggest challenge facing regulators today is the speed at which the industry is evolving, particularly in digital and mobile environments,” Zwane said. “Technology is reshaping gaming faster than traditional regulatory systems were designed to respond.”
In the Eastern Cape, that has meant a stronger focus on digital oversight, modern monitoring systems, enforcement collaboration and data analytics. Zwane said regulation itself must become more technology-driven.
“The regulator of the future cannot operate with outdated tools in a digital industry,” he said. “Modern regulation requires data analytics, real-time monitoring, and agile regulatory systems capable of responding proactively to emerging risks.”
He added that “Digital licensing systems, real-time compliance monitoring, and data-driven regulatory tools are no longer optional — they are essential for effective oversight in a modern gaming environment.”
Balancing investment and protection
Zwane also cautioned against seeing regulation as an obstacle to investment. In his view, good regulation creates the certainty that responsible operators and consumers need.
“Effective regulation should not be viewed as a barrier to investment or innovation,” he said. “In fact, strong regulation is what creates the certainty and trust that sustainable growth depends on.”
The challenge is balance. “Over-regulation can discourage investment, increase compliance costs unnecessarily, and drive consumers toward unregulated or illegal markets,” Zwane said. “Under-regulation, on the other hand, exposes vulnerable consumers, weakens market integrity, and creates opportunities for criminality and illicit operators.”
Looking ahead, Zwane said success for the Eastern Cape gaming sector should include increased investment, expanded employment, greater participation by small, medium and micro enterprises in the sector’s supply chain, better responsible gambling outcomes and more effective action against illegal gambling.
“Ultimately, the vision is for the Eastern Cape gaming sector to become a model of balanced growth — where innovation, investment, accountability, governance, and public protection advance together,” he concluded.
