South Africa looking to regulate I-gaming

[The Buzz]

The South African National Assembly is considering a bill that would regulate Internet gambling.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Gaming/913.html

It provides, among other things, for approval of interactive games, equipment and software, registration of players, dispute resolution and “fair” treatment of players.

One interesting note, however, is that is excludes "interactive gambling activities between two or more people facilitated by a third party." Buzzy thinks that poker would fall under that category ...

[The Buzz]

Looks like not everyone is on board ... some of the arguments are very similar to the ones Buzzy hears in the U.S.

http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx...ticleid=316150

"This is a moral issue," (African National Congress member Ben) Turok said, and he told the department delegation that one argument Sibanda put forward in favour of the Bill -- to allow the fiscus to benefit -- was wrong: "In my view your approach is the wrong one," he said. "It is a social evil that we may have to regulate to curb, but we must not make money out of it."

[The Buzz]

Looks like the anti-gambling folks are lining up in South Africa to prevent Internet gambling regulation. Story in South African newspaper The Star points out that 4-5 percent of kids in South Africa have gambling problems ...

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...0330224C350915

The story does point out that nothing is currently being done to regulate the Internet gambling industry in South Africa, but Buzzy thinks the tone of the story feels more one that advocates prohibition over regulation.

[The Buzz]

The Casino Association of South Africa (CASA) is happy that there is talk of regulation, but not too happy with the current legislation. It is worried regulations for online casinos are more lax than for land-based casinos.

"To ensure consistency and fairness, for example, interactive operators ought to pay a rate of tax no less than those paid by other sectors of the gambling industry," (CASA chairperson Jabu) Mabuza said.

New interactive gambling operators should also be subject to no less stringent requirements regarding empowerment, probity, financial credibility, skills development, job creation, regulation, taxation, and measures to prevent underage gambling and the promotion of responsible gambling, than those applied to land-based casinos.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...2033589C653352

[The Buzz]

In the midst of the push to regulate Internet gambling in South Africa, the head of the Department of Trade and Industry wants to ban advertising online gambling, both by domestic and foreign providers.

http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fS...icleId=4008833

[The Buzz]

South Africa's parliament passed the National Gambling Amendment Bill, which would regulate the Internet gambling industry, yesterday.

However, the bill also bans advertising and requires operators to locate their computer servers and records in South Africa.

Now if the U.S. did this, Buzzy thinks companies would flock her. But South Africa's market isn't quite as big ... I don't think PartyPoker is going to move to South Africa just to get access to the market.

The bill will go before the National Council of Provinces next.

http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw...0225&sn=Detail

http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/inte...&A=ITG&O=FPTOP

[The Buzz]

The Bill has moved to the Select Committee of National Provinces for a vote. An interesting note is that it looks like Internet gambling companies that had allowed South Africans to gamble at their site will probably not receive licenses.

When online gambling becomes legal in SA, the providers of such services and Internet service providers may apply for licences.

“The new law will enable people to licence Internet gambling, and South African citizens will be able to operate within a protected environment,” said (Themba Marasha, chief operations officer of the National Gambling Board).

He said that current offenders had little chance of obtaining licences. “Acts of wrongdoing will disqualify them should they want to apply for a licence in the new South African gambling environment,” he said.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Internet/3175.html

[The Buzz]

The National Council of Provinces added a provision that would ban all advertising of Internet gambling to the regulation bill. As a result, the bill has been "parked" until the NCOP can hear more from the Department of Trade and industry.

http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/busi...=FPTOP&S=Legal View&A=LEG

[The Buzz]

According to Reuters, South Africa's Parliament has approved a new law regulating the Internet gambling industry.

A memorandum attached to the National Gambling Amendment Bill said the interactive gambling industry in Africa's biggest economy was currently unregulated and "generally plagued" by crime.

"This situation has resulted in a considerable loss of revenue to the national fiscus and compromises the country's reputation as a responsible global citizen," it said.

The new bill aims to address the negative socio-economic effects associated with gambling and deals specifically with issues of problem gambling, player protection, licensing, taxation and advertising.

Every online player would need to be registered with a licensed interactive gambling provider and submit an affidavit to ensure they were older than 18 years.

"The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all gambling activities are conducted responsibly, fairly and honestly (and to) protect minors and other vulnerable persons from the negative effects of gambling," it said.

The bill also allowed for an electronic monitoring system to help root out potentially addictive behaviour and restrict credit extensions to players.

President Thabo Mbeki must still sign the bill into law before it comes into effect.

Full story here ... http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN950662.html

[PimpYoda]

So what is the deal with affiliates promoting the likes of Piggs?