Online gambling won’t be allowed in South Africa

The Department of Trade released its final version of South Africa´s National Gambling Policy for 2016 and “no new forms of gambling will be allowed at this point.”

South Africa.- “No new forms of gambling will be allowed at this point,” stated the Department of Trade’s final version of South Africa´s National Gambling Policy for 2016.

The African country currently hosts a prominent land-based casino market, so this decision ended the expectations that operators maintained for online gambling legalisation in one of emerging Africa´s strongest economies.

The South African government based its decision in the fact that online gambling is “not inherently labor intensive,” and thus if legalised it would not “produce significant jobs compared to other regulated activities like casinos.” The government also believes it’s important to “protect gambling activities that create jobs from unwarranted competition.”

Furthermore, the changes in policy suggested for the year, aim to adapt the national infrastructure to block attempts at online gambling even more thoroughly. An amendment on the National Gambling Act prohibits internet service providers from allowing access to illegal gambling sites. In addition, banks and other financial institutions would be prohibited from processing online gambling payments.