Snapshot: remote gambling in South Africa

Author: Live Casino Direct
 
Snapshot: remote gambling in South Africa
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Section 11 of the National Gambling Act prohibits interactive gaming. Online betting can be offered by licensed South African bookmakers. It can only be on games that can't be played by anyone else.

Only licenced bookmakers can take bets via online platforms in certain provinces in South Africa. The main portion of bets taken by bookies relate to sporting events. Bets may be placed on both local and foreign sporting event. Recently, bookmaker's have started offering books on the outcome of gambling games. The Western Cape Rules acknowledge that bets may also be accepted via telephone, cellular phone, the internet or any other electronic media.

There is no distinction between land-based licenced bookmakers and bookies operating via online platform. Remote gambling can only be offered by licence-holders with certain provincial regulators.

The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that online gambling is illegal in South Africa. The case involved a company called Piggs Peak, which operated a land-based casino and an online casino in Swaziland. Pigg Peak applied for an order declaring that when people in the country gambled using its platform, it was illegal. The SCA ruled in favor of the company. It ruled the gambling takes place when a gambler places a stake upon an uncertain chance. In this case, the gamblers' actions were irrelevant.

No internet gambling operators licensed in your jurisdiction offer internet betting to consumers in other countries.

The provincial tax rates prescribed for licenced bookmakers apply to those bookies that offer online betting.