South Africa is an up and coming market for online gambling

Online gambling is growing fast in South Africa as more and more people gain access to high speed internet connections and more sophisticated mobile phones according to latest reports. The only problem is that online gambling is still illegal in the country. The South African government did pass a new law last year that allows operators to provide online gambling providing they adhere to industry regulations however the “regulations” are still under discussion so it is still technically illegal. There is however nothing to stop offshore online casinos from making their services available.

Professor Peter Collins the Executive Director of the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) in South Africa estimates that about a quarter of a million people regularly gamble online but adds that it is very difficult to know for sure. The gambling industry as a whole brings in revenues of 20 billion Rand a year and it is estimated that online gambling could be 7% of that total.

Banning online gaming is not the answer as that drives the industry underground into the hands of organised crime so legislation is needed that address the issues of licensing and underage gambling  to name but two. As to whether land based casinos would suffer with the upsurge is online gambling, Professor Collins said “If regulated properly casino could get a slice of the pie and add to their revenues and services”. Derek Auret, the CEO of Casa (Casino Association of South Africa) also believes that casinos should see this as an opportunity rather than as a threat.