South Africa is preparing for a major shift in its National Lottery landscape. Sizekhaya Holdings a consortium led by the Goldrush Group and prominent KwaZulu-Natal entrepreneurs Moses Tembe and Sandile Zungu, has officially clinched the country’s fourth National Lottery and Sports Pools licence. This new era kicks off on 1 June 2026, with Sizekhaya promising to modernise the lottery and deepen its impact across communities.
Goldrush Gaming Group, a heavyweight in local gaming and a JSE-listed company, holds a controlling 50% stake in Sizekhaya Holdings, ensuring substantial operational expertise and financial backing for this new venture. The remaining shares are held by Bellamont Gaming (with Tembe as director) and Zungu, both bringing a track record of commercial leadership to the table. According to the team, the consortium aims to bring fresh energy and innovation to the National Lottery, leveraging decades of gaming experience in the highly regulated local market which they aim to bring to the table.
However, the road to this transition hasn’t been smooth. While Sizekhaya readies itself for the handover, outgoing operator Ithuba Holdings was controversially awarded a 12-month temporary licence to keep operations running until the new team takes over. This extension, granted mere hours before Ithuba’s original contract expired—has sparked legal challenges, as the Lotteries Act prohibits further extensions for previous operators. As it stands, Judge Potterill has allowed Ithuba to stay on for up to five months (with a possible extension to a full year if required by the courts), effectively buying Sizekhaya the time needed to build the new operation.
The selection process itself was fraught with legal wrangling. Bidder Wina Njalo contested the outcome, and several parliamentarians demanded clarity about Goldrush’s political links. Ultimately, it took a Pretoria High Court order for the Minister to announce the winner by the legal deadline of 28 May 2025, ending months of uncertainty. The National Lotteries Commission finalised talks with Sizekhaya just two days before the deadline, locking in the new partnership.
On the tech front, Sizekhaya is backed by Genlot, a Chinese lottery giant with a claimed 19% share of the global market and operational experience in regions as diverse as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Brazil, and Jamaica. Genlot will play a hands-on role in delivering ticket sales infrastructure, hiring, and training, ensuring South Africa’s lottery keeps pace with global innovation.
Financially, the stakes are high. The National Lottery raked in R7.3 billion in sales in 2024, with almost half of that amount paid out in prizes and significant revenue channelled into the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) for charitable causes. Outgoing operator Ithuba contributed a R13.5 billion to the NLDTF since 2015. Now, all eyes are on Sizekhaya to build on this legacy and expand its social impact even further.
Inside Goldrush Holdings
Goldrush is actually a registered trademark of the Goldrush Group—a clever legal move that gives them exclusive rights to the name in the gaming world. It’s interesting, though, because “gold rush” is a phrase woven into South Africa’s national story, instantly calling up images of the country’s mining past. So how do you trademark something so iconic and universal? For Goldrush Group, securing the name means their brand stands out and stays protected, even in a market where everyone knows what a gold rush means.
Goldrush Holdings Ltd, the holding entity behind Goldrush Group, is listed on the JSE under code GRSP, with its headquarters in Claremont, Cape Town . The company’s evolution from RECM and Calibre Ltd (RAC) to Goldrush Holdings in July 2024 marks a pivotal step in its growth . Holding nearly 60% of the Goldrush Group, Goldrush Holdings has consolidated its position as a major force in South African gaming.
Goldrush Group itself has a broad footprint, spanning sports betting, limited payout machines (LPMs), bingo, and casino operations. With over two decades in the industry, Goldrush is one of the most experienced names in South African and African gaming, employing around 2,000 people and holding licences in every South African province. The group pioneered bingo in Gauteng back in 1998 and has since expanded its bingo footprint across six provinces. In LPM route operations, Goldrush holds the authority to place machines in pubs, taverns, and other venues across Gauteng, Limpopo, North-West, Northern Cape, and even Lesotho.
Goldrush Retail Operations in South Africa
Goldrush operates one of the largest retail gaming networks in South Africa, with branches located in nearly every province. Each store functions as an independent operation, offering a variety of electronic bingo terminals that are styled to resemble traditional slot machines. Most venues include bar facilities, and several also provide full restaurant services. Larger branches may host more than 200 gaming terminals on site. Goldrush Bingo venues can be found in key locations. In Gauteng, Goldrush Bingo venues are located at Newmarket Mall in Alberton, Mall@Reds in Centurion, San Ridge in Midrand, Kolonnade in Pretoria, Cresta in Johannesburg, Morula in Mabopane, and Vaal in Vanderbijlpark. In KwaZulu-Natal, branches include Durban Central, Malvern (Queensburgh), Ballito, Chatsworth, Phoenix, Hillcrest, Scottburgh, Richards Bay, Stanger, and Pietermaritzburg. Eastern Cape locations cover Grahamstown, Cradock, Graaff Reinet, Port Elizabeth (Bingo Royale), East London, Jeffreys Bay, Matatiele, Mthatha, Lusikisiki, and other regional centres. In Limpopo, venues can be found in Bela Bela, Groblersdal, and Phalaborwa. North-West province hosts branches in Potchefstroom and Rustenburg, while Mpumalanga includes sites in Middelburg, Ermelo, and Bushbuckridge.
Beyond the Goldrush branches
Goldrush Slots operates as a licensed route operator, supplying Limited Pay-out Machines (LPMs) to bars, taverns, restaurants, sports clubs, bingo halls, and sports betting businesses throughout South Africa. The company’s business model is based on partnering with venue owners on a profit-sharing basis, making it possible for a wide range of establishments to legally participate in the gambling industry. Goldrush assists partners with every step of the licensing process, from SARS registration and local municipal approvals to business license applications and FICA training. Once a venue is approved, Goldrush installs and maintains the slot machines, provides technical and helpdesk support, and offers ongoing compliance audits and responsible gambling programs. All machines are monitored for performance, with regular updates and staff training provided to ensure smooth operations. By law, each LPM allows a maximum bet of R5 and a maximum jackpot of R500 per spin, in line with South African gambling regulations.
G-bets Online / Offline Sports Betting Operations
Across the country, Goldrush Gaming Group also operates other land-based retail betting through other recognisable brands like Gbets and their own footprint of nationwide venues. In Gauteng, locations include Atteridgeville, Westgate, Sebokeng, Tembisa, Cresta, and Cosmo City, with Hammanskraal also serving the Gauteng/Sasolburg region. The Free State branch is located in Sasolburg, while Mpumalanga hosts a site in Ermelo. In the North West province, Gbets can be found in Bapong, Ga-Rankuwa, Klerksdorp, Hebron, Phokeng, Tlhabane, and Wolmaransstad. Northern Cape’s branch is in Kathu. KwaZulu-Natal branches include Nongoma, Nquthu, Ladysmith, Esikhaweni, Port Shepstone, Stanger, and Kokstad. Gbets also operates in Lesotho, with outlets at Border Bridge, Bus Stop, Maputsoe, Mohales Hoek, and TY.
Goldrush Online
On the digital front, Goldrush Online is now a leading player in South Africa’s online gaming landscape. Licensed by the Northern Cape Gambling and Racing Board and six other regulators, the platform offers everything from slots and live dealer games to instant win titles and sports betting. Goldrush Online collaborates with global leaders such as Pragmatic Play, EGT DIGITAL, Yggdrasil, NETENT, Spinomenal, and Red Tiger, boasting thousands of slot games and instant-play options. The brand is known for its secure banking, with 20-minute average withdrawals and round-the-clock customer support.
Goldrush has earned a reputation as one of South Africa’s premier VIP host casinos, both online and offline, attracting some of the country’s biggest gambling clients. Whether it’s high-rollers from Johannesburg, Cape Town, or Durban, players are drawn to Goldrush because of its exclusive player rewards programs and the kind of personalised service only an established casino can offer. What truly sets Goldrush apart, however, is its ability to accommodate high-stakes bets—something many competitors simply can’t match. The casino’s robust rewards structure for VIPs and high-rollers has made it a destination of choice for those seeking top-tier action, generous incentives, and a level of professional hosting that consistently exceeds expectations.
Goldrush Holdings has built its business on compliance, which has been the mandate form the top down. Every aspect of the operation, right down to board structure, management, and day-to-day oversight; has been designed to meet or exceed South Africa’s legal requirements and industry best practices, which is why there are so few viable contenders for the lottery bid. This isn’t just box-ticking; it’s a core part of the company’s identity and a major reason Goldrush stood out during the lottery licence process and their track record as an operator in South Africa todate. With oversight from Regarding Capital Management and a leadership team Goldrush’s reputation for doing things by the book has became one of its biggest strengths.
What’s Next?
The transition is being watched closely by the industry, regulators, and the public. Moses Tembe, Chairman of Sizekhaya Holdings, summed up the ambition: “When the lottery is run well, it can become a powerful force for good… We believe that it can deliver so much more. That is why Sizekhaya Holdings bid for the lottery”. Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition Parks Tau echoed this optimism, saying, “I also look forward to increased contributions to the many needy beneficiaries of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund”.
For years, the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and outgoing operator Ithuba Holdings have been plagued by controversy, court battles, and corruption scandals that have dogged nearly every aspect of lottery administration in South Africa. Instead of focusing on building public trust or ensuring funds reached their intended beneficiaries, both the NLC and its partners have spent an astonishing amount of time defending themselves in courtrooms, fending off allegations of mismanagement, self-dealing, and politically connected payouts.
Investigative journalists have uncovered cases where lottery grants were siphoned off for luxury homes, friends and family, and high-profile political patrons, while urgent social projects went underfunded or neglected.
Despite public outcry and a growing list of exposés, the same players managed to maintain their grip on the licence through appeals, legal loopholes, and political connections, rather than transparent merit. With the Sizekhaya-Goldrush consortium poised to take over, there’s growing hope (and mounting pressure) that South Africa will finally get the diligent, accountable lottery operator it’s long deserved.
Still, there’s plenty of legal dust in the air. Various stakeholders, including Wina Njalo and the National Lotteries Commission, are considering further court action or appeals, which could impact the timing and execution of the new licence. Complicating matters, there is currently no reserve bidder—if the Sizekhaya deal falters, the future of the National Lottery may once again be up in the air.
References:
Sunday World, 28 May 2025, News24, 28 May 2025, Magic 828, 1 June 2025, GroundUp, 2 June 2025, GroundUp, 28 May 2025, Moneyweb, 28 May 2025, Goldrush Holdings, Goldrush Group, Goldrush Online, Goldrush About