South Africa Moves Toward Legalizing Online Gambling

SOUTH AFRICA -- The government has taken its first steps to legalise online gambling.

"It has published the National Gambling Bill, which deals with online gambling, among other issues.

"Online gambling is done through Internet casinos which run off secure software that players download. Players deposit and purchase credits via bank deposits or credit cards.

"… Neil Dundas and Warren Weertman, from Sandton law firm Bowman Gilfillan, said that for a long time, governments all over the world hoped that if they ignored online gambling for long enough, it would go away.

"…They added that despite the urging of the NGB, the issue of legalising online gambling remained unresolved in South Africa.

"The bill also says people can engage in or make available an interactive game only if authorised to do so in terms of the new gambling act or other national law.

"This, Dundas and Weertman said, would mean that interactive gaming would be legal - provided it was licensed…"