South
Africa May Legalize Online Gambling
As reported by the South Africa
Financial Mail: "Internet gambling in SA
is not only illegal, it's also not particularly
big next to other forms of gambling, such as
the national lottery, casinos and bingo. But
this looks set to change.
"Online
gambling will become legal if trade & industry
minister Mandisi Mpahlwa accepts the recommendations
of the national gambling board. In a report
on the regulation of interactive gambling released
last month, the board has recommended that Internet
gambling be legalised.
"Online
gambling in SA remains the preserve of a relative
few - those who have regular access to the Internet.
Only one in 10 households has a fixed telephone
line and, of 361 calls made to a hotline operated
by the national responsible gambling programme
in the three months to end-September, only two
related to Internet gambling.
"This
could change fast. Local gambling operators
are salivating at the opportunities that legalisation
of Internet gambling might offer.
"If
Mpahlwa opts to legalise Internet gambling,
SA companies stand to profit from an industry
that is enjoying rapid growth. The industry
was worth US$3bn/year in 2001 and had grown
to more than $8,2bn/year in 2004, according
to research firm Christiansen Capital Advisors.
The market is expected to triple to almost $25bn/year
by 2010.
"National
gambling board CEO Thibedi Majake says there
was little option other than to recommend that
online gambling be legalised.
"…The
board's report says that legalising online gambling
will address several issues: local gamblers
will have legal protection; it will prevent
'criminal influence and exploitation' in the
industry; and it will promote the development
of an interactive gambling industry in SA…"
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