Online Gambling May Become Legal In South Africa - 03-16-08

March 16 - Whereas under current law, you could go to jail and pay a huge fine for engaging in online gambling in South Africa (in theory that is), the country could change its legislation soon.

Even though online casino, sports and poker sites are based in another countries, the act of making a wager online is illegal, and there are currently no sites that hold a license in South Africa. Despite this, numerous online gambling sites openly advertise their services. According to the National Gambling Board, they have approached various bodies that have contravened the restriction on advertising, promoting and marketing online gambling services.

Now there are signs that online gambling may soon become legal in South Africa.

This past Wednesday, a new Bill relating to Internet gambling went to the Select Committee of National Provinces and it is expected to be approved at the  National Assembly.

The government plans to license online gambling sites. The Gambling Board want to offer protection to people who gamble online.

Current operators however will be concerned over a statement made by the National Gambling board that "current offenders had little chance of obtaining licenses" and that "acts of wrongdoing will disqualify them should they want to apply for a license in the new South African gambling environment."

A spokes person said that the current gambling law has penalties for contraventions, and under the act, the penalty for anyone convicted of an offence is a fine of up to R10-million or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years - or he or she could face both a fine and imprisonment.

Operators currently operating outside of South Africa will have to apply for a license in order to market their services.