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Delay for South African Gambling

The South African online casino gambling market is finally legalized and regulated now that President Thabo Mbeki has signed off one the long awaited legislation. The gambling bill was highly controversial and has undergone some major revisions and debate over the past year, but just three months ago the South African Parliament passed the National Gambling Amendment Bill. The gambling bill specifically addresses internet gambling and the licensing and regulation process that will ensure that the online casinos operate fairly in the market and without the exploitation of underage and problem gamblers.

The safety of underage gamblers was a big obstacle for the bill – opponents argued that legalized online casino gambling would leave South Africa’s youth with even more opportunities to illegal gamble through the internet. Safety controls though and strict regulation of the online casinos was a persuasive counterargument and Parliament passed the new legislation in the end.

In addition to addressing underage gambling in the bill, the new regulations have specific measures in place to stop criminal activity like money laundering from becoming rampant. Taxation is also an important part of the legislation and though there were initial concerns that benefiting from online casino gambling was akin to profiting from prostitution, Parliament agreed on some very strict taxation requirements and the tax revenue will go toward social programs and other projects that benefit South African citizens.

Interestingly, President Mbeki is delaying the implementation of the of the newly signed legislation until an undefined date. Online casinos interested in obtaining a South African gambling license will have to wait until the President announces the date that internet gambling will become officially legal in South Africa.