|
|
December 11 - While online gambling has always been a 'grey area' in South
Africa, it could shortly be legalized according to a recommendation put forward
to the Department of Trade and Industry by the National Gambling Board (NGB).
The National Gambling Board (NGB) submitted a report to the Minister
of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, recommending that online gambling be legalised,
regulated and taxed in South Africa.
The issue of online gambling in South Africa has been in the spotlight in the
last few weeks as a leading South African land and online casino group
challenged an online gambling ban in the Pretoria High Court.
During the case, the South African casino group argued that while people in
Gauteng were
gambling in its online casino, the online casino itself is hosted in
Swaziland. The NGB argued that online gambling was taking place in both Gauteng
and Swaziland, and probably elsewhere too.
The court agreed with the NGB and upheld the ban, saying that any individual or
company facilitating online gambling potentially face large fines as well as
prison time, including the South African media, banks and ISPs (Internet Service
Providers).
However, many South African online casino and gambling analysts doubt whether the online
gambling ban upheld by the court can, in fact, be enforced.
For instance, a representative of the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA)
was quoted as saying that 'there is currently no law in place requiring ISPs to block
or otherwise restrict access to online gambling websites.'
In terms of banking, a representative of a leading South African bank said, 'We
currently cannot monitor and restrict online gambling-related financial
transactions. In fact, most South African online gamblers use credit cards or other forms
of electronic payments which are often hard to identify as online gambling
related.'
Related Gambling Articles:
- Smashing Cash Bonuses at Silver Sands Casino
- Century Casinos Opens Casino in KwaZulu Natal
- Invite the Hillbillies Home with Silver Sands Casino
- Carryover Pick 6 Worth R2.5 Million
- Win Derby Dollars at Silver Sands Casino
- Sun City to host Miss SA and Teen SA Beauties
- Proteas Win Cricket Series Against India
- Play Golden Gloves at Silver Sands Casino
|
|
|
