South Africa against iGaming

South African authorities reaffirmed their position against online gambling legalisation.

South Africa.- Earlier this month, the South African government made public the approval of South Africa’s National Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, which is still on hold until November 15, when the general public is set to comment on the legislation. The Bill is one step forward to install stricter rules against gaming industry, especially against the online sector.

The residents are currently in a 45-day period to debate about the legislation and define their decisions for next month’s enquiry. Last week the government spoke to the public to warn voters who consider approving the development of gambling in the country. South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) took the opportunity to show its opposition to evolve the country’s online gambling industry.

Currently all online gambling activities, except for sports betting, are deemed as illegal in South Africa. The legislation may not be able to truly end online services, but the prohibition would surely mean that the government would not perceive any incomes by international operators. Geordin Hill-Lewis has been almost the only politician proposing progressive change to the legislation, having encouraged its revival and calling for assessments, but that effort has been in vain.

Registers shows that in 2014 South Africans frittered away R17.2 billion (US$1.2 million) on various forms of gambling, the government did not receive any payment for those activities, according to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, the principal opponent to the industry. Davies says the financial intelligence centre will work with financial institutions to verify and cease online winnings. “If you go online, we may not be able to stop you when you pay the game, but when you win, we get you,” he concluded.