South Africa remote gambling bill tabled in parliament

A bill aiming to regulate South Africa’s remote gambling market was tabled in the country’s parliament yesterday but faces significant challenges if it is to be passed.

The private member’s bill was tabled by Geordin Hill-Lewis of the country’s opposition Democratic Alliance party and sets out to legalise and regulate all forms of online gambling in the country via the introduction of a licensing framework.

The bill, essentially the same one tabled last year, was revived by Hill-Lewis last month and aims to establish a licensing model managed by both provincial licensing authorities and a national gambling board.

Other facets of the bill include the requirement of all remote gambling company employees to be individually vetted and licensed and a number of responsible gambling requirements that all operators would have to adhere to.

But despite the tabling of the bill, it is unlikely to gain traction considering the current government last month confirmed that it had “no intention” of legalising online gambling.

However, local gaming lawyer Wayne Lurie said the bill’s tabling was a “significant step” towards triggering “much needed” debate on the subject.

“One hopes that the debate stimulated around the bill will highlight the dire need for South Africa to move from a position of prohibition of igaming to proper regulation, whether by way of this bill or through one emerging from the ruling party, as a result of the renewed focus,” Lurie said.

While last year’s attempt to push the remote gambling bill at one stage looked promising, its progress was stymied by the suspension and subsequent dissolution of the country’s gambling board following allegations of financial irregularities and improper spending.