South Africa The New Online Gambling Center

Some exciting news in the world of online gambling during what has otherwise been a rather quiet Spring Holiday break.  South Africa is looking to legalize online gambling. 

This may not come as much of a surprise.  Gambling911.com is already represented by one of South Africa's most renowned online gambling software companies, MicroGaming, through its licensee Bella Vegas.  Microgaming itself simply provides the software.  They don't actually take the bets.  But with its major presence in the industry, South Africa has always been one of those "noted" Internet gambling jurisdictions despite outlawing the activity in 2004.

"Perhaps it is the 2010's World Cup that will be played in South Africa that has influenced the change of heart," suggests a contributor to the Online Casino Reports website.  "The legalization of gambling may allow the country to benefit from gambling over the event, surely to take place in one form or another."

The Times newspaper of South Africa helped deliver some excitement to the online gambling community which has witnessed one nation after another try to abolish it, the latest being Thailand.  Various European Union countries and the United States have also aggressively tried to dismantle the industry over the last year or more.

A bill proposing the licensing of Internet gambling businesses went to the Select Committee of National Provinces earlier last week and will soon be tabled in the National Assembly for final approval.

“The new law will enable people to licence Internet gambling and South African citizens will be able to operate within a protected environment,” said Themba Marasha, Chief Operations Officer for the National Gambling Board.

Marasha claims to have already been approached numerous parties about licensing their online casinos

Evelyn Masotja, Director for Regulated Industries at the Department of Trade and Industry, claims that the proposed legislation is a means of protecting South African citizens from "unscrupulous" operators in "foreign lands", presumably Costa Rica, which is home to dozens of online gambling establishments, as well as Malta.

“Players involved in interactive gambling currently play at their own risk and there’s no regulatory environment to protect them,” said Masotja.

Gambling911.com will monitor this situation closely.

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com

Originally published March 24, 2008 9:16 am EST