SOUTH AFRICA MOVING FORWARD ON INTERNET GAMING REGULATION?

3 August 2007

Long anticipated bill tabled by DTI

Reports from the Business Day newspaper in South Africa indicate that the Department of Trade and Industry in the South African government has tabled a legislative proposal that aims to regulate the interactive gambling industry in South Africa.

The regulation of online gambling in the country has been anticipated for some time following the submission to government two years back of the results of a comprehensive international study by a specially appointed commission of online gambling technology and jurisdictions .

The National Gambling Amendment Bill, tabled by trade and industry minister Mandisi Mpahlwa, notes that the interactive gambling industry - or remote gambling taking place through the Internet or other related forms - must be strictly controlled for the prevention of crime and the protection of players, problem gamblers and the underaged.

In terms of the proposed bill, interactive providers may not extend credit to any person "for the purpose of engaging in interactive games".

An interactive provider must immediately credit the account of a player who wins a monetary prize. A player must have an account with an authorised financial institution. And players must be 18 years or older.

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