The Rise of Online Gambling in South Africa

August 19 - There has been a flurry of media articles relating to online gambling in South Africa over the past week, beginning with the story of the fact finding contingent that travelled to the Caribbean state of Antigua to explore the country's internet wagering legislation and implementation.

The Weekend Post outlined how online gambling is taking the country by storm thanks to technology and the entertainment factor.

The newspaper showed that while online gambling is still considered an illegal pastime in South Africa, off shore providers are offering top quality services to citizens, and there is nothing stopping them from doing so.

"In South Africa, it is currently estimated that about a quarter of a million people regularly gamble online," the Executive Director of the National Responsible Gambling Program (NRGP), Prof. Peter Collins, was quoted as saying.

Collins, who runs two centres - one in South Africa and one the United Kingdom - believes that it is difficult to calculate exactly how many people gamble online in South Africa.

All in all, around six million South Africans call themselves gamblers in an industry that generates around R20 billion each year.

Of that amount, 7% originates from internet gambling.

Collins said that traditional casinos should realize that online gambling has the potential to lure more people over time and that the best way to ensure that the industry remains properly balanced is to introduce regulation.  "If regulated properly," he said, "casinos could get a slice of the pie and add to their revenue and services."

The Weekend Post also showed the downfalls of online gambling if not regulated properly, including underage gambling.

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