Local police, in collaboration with the Gauteng Gambling Board and SAPS provincial head office, embarked on an operation against illegal gambling outlets in Brakpan on September 7.

Officers raided an unlicensed shop and seized all equipment used for illegal gambling.

The shop was closed and the owner arrested for contravening Section 8(a) of the National Gambling Act 7 of 2004, which prohibits unlicensed gambling activities.

Brakpan SAPS social crime prevention and communication officer Constable Audrey Buthelezi explained that illegal gambling operates outside the law and drives broader criminal activity.

“It is closely linked to various forms of criminal activities, including money laundering, fraud, and acquisitive crimes, and it poses significant social and economic harms,” she said.

She added that the consequences extend beyond individuals to families and communities, leading to financial distress, relationship breakdowns, family violence, and mental health challenges.

The economic burden includes lost productivity, increased demand on social services, and law enforcement costs.

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Buthelezi stated that police will enforce compliance through inter-agency collaboration, public monitoring, and targeted interventions to reduce gambling-related harms.

She noted that shutting down illegal operations protects state revenue, supports the local economy, and maintains public safety by preventing fraud and violence.

Issuing a stern warning to illegal outlet owners in Brakpan, Buthelezi said anyone breaking the law would face strict enforcement.