SA Online Gambling
Operators Call for Regulation
 November
23 -
South African land and online gambling operators
are calling for the government to make good on its intention
to legalise and regulate the nation's online gambling industry
because they claim further delays will only serve to harm the
growing industry.
Said Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, spokesperson, Mpho Ramafalo,
'South
Africans are already patronizing available online gambling sites
elsewhere
and local operators are lagging behind. We would like to see the
government to introduce online gambling regulations.'
However, this
issue will likely continue to be bogged down by government 'red
tape' and beaurocracy.
In August this year the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on
Trade and Industry requested that the
implementation of the regulations on online gambling be delayed.
The
delay is thought to be as a result of feedback generated when
the draft regulations were published in February
of this year for public comment. Based on the feedback, the
Committee acknowledged that the
legislation needed further reviewing before being implemented.
In May 2008 the National Gambling Amendment Bill made allowances
for online gambling in SA,
which the original National Gambling Act failed to cover. The
Bill was drawn up
as part of government's plans to tighten regulations on online
gambling
and reduce offshore control.
Said Alicia Gibson, industry and legal consultant to AG
Consulting in her submission to Parliament, 'Although
it was hard to police online gambling, licensed online gambling
options are preferable to prohibition.
Problem gambling would also not be reduced through prohibition.
'Prohibition would also cancel out the gambling industry's
contribution to revenue and employment creation.
Under-age gambling and money laundering activities would
flourish if prohibition was opted for,' she said.
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