South African Online Gambling Act Approved

Published: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Online-Casinos.com

SOUTH AFRICAN ONLINE GAMBLING ACT APPROVED

National Gambling Amendment Bill approved by Parliament


After years of research and weeks of intensive special hearings (see previous Online-Casinos.com/InfoPowa reports) the regulation of online gambling in South Africa moved forward this week, achieving parliamentary approval.

The National Gambling Amendment Bill introduced by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), legalises Internet gambling by creating legislation for the licensing of interactive gambling operators.

In terms of the proposed legislation, software vendors providing online gambling platforms will be required to obtain a national license for key staff, as well as the interactive software itself, related equipment and the suppliers and maintenance providers of that equipment. Probity and technical checks will be a prominent feature of the process, thoroughly investigating each applicant for licensing.

The goal of the bill is to protect players, ensure gambling revenue reaches the fiscus, retain interactive gambling players in SA, and prevent underage or problem gambling.

The next step in enacting the Bill will be for it to be accepted by the National Council of Provinces, which may have to hold another round of public hearings before this can be achieved. Once the Bill is universally accepted, it will be referred to South African president Thabo Mbeki for promulgation, after which it will be gazetted in to law.

The taxation issue, which existing land operators are concerned should ensure a level playing field, is yet to be finalised.