South Africa Delays Opening of Online Casino Market

Online casinos which recently looked hopefully to operating legally in South Africa have at least a while longer to wait, as the implementation of regulations has been stalled.

Political maneuvering has slowed the progression of legal online casino gambling in South Africa, as moralist foes who had been thought defeated are delaying the establishment of regulations. The country had conducted extensive research into online gambling regulation and consumer protection, and was advancing on implementing rules when the recent backlash reopened debate on the wisdom of regulation.

“Where gambling has been legalised by government moral objections to gambling have been finely considered and should not be confused with the public interest," said Derek Auret, CEO of the Casino Association of South Africa. "Unfortunately we are seeing that confusion at the moment in the portfolio committee of trade and industry in Parliament which is discussing the regulation of Internet gambling.”

South Africa has been moving toward legalization of online casinos since a report recommended it do so in 2004. But even careful study of problem gambling, money laundering, and age identification issues has not deterred gaming opponents.

“Now we at a point where the act has been signed into law and we are busy drafting the regulations, but we are revisiting initial steps again," said Auret.

Given the present political situation, it is hard to say when South African residents may finally gamble at online casinos, if ever.