UK Firm Eyes out SA for
Cell Phone Betting
 November
3 - According to recent reports, Charles Cohen, the CEO of leading
UK-based cell phone betting company Probability plc, has earmarked South Africa as
an ideal market in which to extend its successful mobile betting business, given
that SA has over 34 million cell phone users.
Cohen was quoted as saying that he is very excited about the possibility of
Probability launching its mobile betting services in South Africa by as early as March 2009.
'Being that South Africa has one of the highest cell phone Internet usages in the
world today, it is a very attractive market,' he said.
Cohen has identified South Africa as lucrative market for cell phone betting
because he believes the country's gambling 'regulatory standards' would be
'receptive' to allowing a UK-based company to operate in the country. However,
he has to first negotiate SA's online gambling legislation.
While a new gambling bill was recently passed, it still had to be signed off by
then President Thabo Mbeki. With Mbeki now gone, the question is when or even if
the new South African President (Kgalema Motlanthe) will sign the bill into law
or will he let it collect dust on his desk as Mbeki did?
As such, Cohen says he'll be watching the process very carefully to see how the
legislation will turn out. South Africa's new gambling bill has paved the way
for online and interactive gambling services in the country, provided
prospective operators apply for and are granted the proper licenses.
Although nothing has been set in stone, Cohen has stated that he has made
contact with a number of South African cell phone networks. But while he is optimistic
about South Africa, he is also reportedly looking at Italy and Sweden, as both
countries boast similarly high cell phone usage as SA.
Via Probability, South Africans would be able
to enjoy a range of casino and other games - for real money - over their cell
phones including blackjack, roulette, bingo and many more. Probability is one of
many large foreign gambling firms seeking to tap into South Africa's lucrative
gambling market.
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