Cape Town 2026–2030
Introduction – Why SiGMA Matters
Introduction – South Africa’s Gambling Market
Introduction – Western Cape’s Gambling Market
Introduction – Gambling Regulation
Introduction – Economic Impact
Introduction – SiGMA In Cape Town
Economic Impact Assessment – Main Assumptions
Delegate Attendance
Economic Impact Assessment – Main Assumptions
Hotel Nights
Hotel Spend
Food And Beverage Spend
Ancillary Spend
Total Delegate Spend
Total Spend
Summary
• SiGMA is the leading global gaming event platform in Africa, bringing global C-level decision-makers to Cape Town.
• Acts as catalyst for high-value industry networking, encouraging knowledge-exchange on market opportunities and market standards.
• SiGMA supports South Africa’s pathway toward modernised iGaming regulation.
• The event showcases African operators, affiliates, suppliers and investment targets to a global audience.
• South Africa has one of Africa’s most mature and regulated gambling markets, with significant activity in casinos, sports betting, and horse racing.
• The market is experiencing robust growth in digital betting, esports, fintech-gaming payments and compliance-driven innovation.
• South Africa recorded a gambling turnover of R1.5 trillion (EUR 75 billion) in the 2024/25 financial year, a 36% increase over the previous year, primarily driven by the rise of online betting.
• The Western Cape has been identified as the country’s top gambling revenue contributor, accounting for 31% of the national online gaming market.
• It has continued dominance in both land-based and online gambling businesses.
• Western Cape’s leadership in the iGaming sector comes in part from its digital readiness and a mature market for software providers.
• The province also benefits from increasing digital wagering and established consumer habits.
• The Western Cape Gambling & Racing Board (WCGRB) is widely viewed as the most progressive gaming regulator in South Africa, often ahead of national policy discussions.
• Operators find the Western Cape especially attractive due to its efficient licensing systems and regulatory stability, as well as a streamlined onboarding processes and political openness to new gaming formats.
• Western Cape has attracted local and international brands in part due to its “licence on demand” system for bookmakers which allows operators to run online betting businesses without maintaining a physical retail presence, thus simplifying market entry.
• The province also leads in the implementation of the National Central Electronic Monitoring System which ensures that all lawful games of chance are tracked and documented in real time, leading to enhanced openness, thus supporting wider confidence within the regulated gaming atmosphere.
• By drawing senior-level decision makers from around the world, SiGMA stimulates direct economic impact and helps to strategically position South Africa as a leader in the future expansion of the sector.
• SiGMA helps strengthen public-private regulatory collaboration – supporting consumer protection, responsible gambling, AML/CFT compliance and market integrity.
• The event aligns with national objectives of growing high-value tourism, attracting foreign investment and promoting South Africa as a continental business hub.
• Hosting SiGMA in Cape Town supports regional diversification beyond Johannesburg as the traditional business centre.
• The city offers a compelling combination of convention infrastructure, tourism magnetism, and innovation-driven business community.
• Cape Town can be considered as South Africa’s leading tech and digital innovation hub, having a strong fintech ecosystem aligned with gaming payment infrastructure as well as a highly international business culture and talent pool.
• Cape Town provides a high-quality environment for investor engagement, enhancing South Africa’s competitiveness against other African markets. \04
• The global gambling market growth rate is expected to be around 6 – 7% p.a. between 2025 and 2035 according one source while another source expects such market to grow at a 11 – 12% p.a. from 2024 to 2029.
• In our analysis we have taken these two growth rates (6% and 12%) as our low and high scenarios for growth in attendees at future SiGMA events held in South Africa.
• It has been assumed that 60% of delegates will be from outside South Africa, while 80% of delegates will be from outside of the Cape Town; these figures have implications on projected spending patterns.
• Inflation rates of 3.7% p.a. in 2026, 3.4% in 2027 and 3% p.a. for the years 2028 to 2030 have been assumed.
• The impact is assessed through direct expenditure in South Africa enabled as a result of the SiGMA event.
Some 3,000 delegates are projected to attend in 2026, and could increase to between c. 3,800 and 4,800 by 2030. Delegates
In calculating potential spend we have assumed:
• a 2-day event;
• average 5-night stay by international delegates;
• average 3-night stay by 50% of local delegates;
• hotels used by delegates will have an Average Daily Rate (ADR) of around €210 in 2026.
Total hotel nights are expected at around 11,000 in 2026, increasing to between c. 13,500 and 17,000 nights by the end of the decade.
Hotel spend by international and domestic delegates is expected to be around R45m (€2.3m) in 2026 increasing to between some R65m and R85m (c. €3.3m and €4m) by 2030.
Assuming an average spend on food and beverages of c. R2,300 (€115) per delegate per day, total spend on F+B is expected to hit some R25m (€1.2m) in 2026 and increase to between c. R35m and R45m (c. €1.5m and €1.9m) by 2030.
Assuming an average ancillary spend of c. R1,700 (€85) per delegate per day, total ancillary spend (ground transportation and entertainment) is expected to reach some R19m (€1m) in 2026 and increase to between c. R27m and R33m (€1.3m and €1.7m) by 2030.
Across all three forms of delegate spend (Hotel, F+B and Ancillary), SiGMA’s direct contribution to the economy can be expected to total some R90m (€4.5m) in 2026, rising to some R128m – R160m (€6.4m – €8m) by 2030.
• Additionally, SiGMA will be investing some R4m (€200,000) – in 2026 prices – in the construction of exhibition booths by local suppliers and venue rental.
• Across all four forms of spend, SiGMA’s direct contribution to the economy can be expected to total some R94m (€4.7m) in 2026, rising to some R135m –R165m (€6.6m – €8.2m) by 2030.
\Forecast
Initial Delegates 2026: 3,000
Growth by 2030: Between 3,800 and 4,800 attendees
Assumptions are based on global gaming market growth:
• Low-case: 6% annual growth
• High-case: 12% annual growth
\Tourism & Delegate Spend
60% of delegates are expected from outside South Africa; 80% from outside of Cape Town
Delegates will stay an average of:
• 5 nights (international)
• 3 nights (locals from outside central Cape Town – 50%)
ADR (Average Daily Rate): €210 per night
\Forecast Hospitality Impacts
Hotel nights (2026): 11,000
Hotel nights (2030): 13,500–17,000
Hotel spending (2026): R45 million (€2.3m)
Hotel spending (2030): R65 – R85 million (€3.3m – €4m)
\Forecast Food and Beverages Spend
Spend 2026: R25 million (€1.2m)
Spend 2030: R35 – R45 million (€1.5m – €1.9m)
\Forecast Ancillary Spend
Spend 2026: R19 million (€1m)
Spend 2030: R27 – R33 million (€1.3m – €1.7m)
Spend 2026: R94 million (€4.7m)
Spend 2030: R135 – R165 million (€6.6m – €8.2m)
Note: Delegate spend excludes the impact of accompanying guests. The above are direct spending impacts. Indirect and induced impacts, all with resulting GVA and employment effects, have not been included in the figures.