Mbeki Close to
Signing South African Online Gambling Bill
May 28 - As reported in dish earlier this month, South Africa is
even one step closer
to becoming one of only a handful of countries that have opted
for legalised, regulated and taxed online gambling, as opposed to banning it and
thus
forcing online gamblers to gamble illegally.
Last week the National Gambling Amendment Bill was unanimously approved by the South
African Parliament which means it is now sitting on President Thabo Mbeki's desk
waiting for his signature.
Once signed, South Africa will join the likes of the
UK in its 'forward-thinking' online gambling policies.
What the South African National Gambling Amendment Bill is designed to do is
protect South African online gambling fans from unscrupulous online gambling operators and
advertisers, as well as generate revenue for the country through the taxation of
the popular Internet pastime.
As such, it requires that all online casino operators operating in South Africa
must
apply for an online gambling license from the government.
As far as players go,
when signing up with an online casino, they will be required to sign an affidavit proving they
are over the legal gambling age of 18.
South Africa's move to officially legalize online gambling has been applauded
throughout the online gambling world, particularly by opponents of the United
States' draconian and hypocritical online gambling ban.
Many hope that US lawmakers
will eventually follow South Africa's example.
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