South Africa Experiences Multiple Gambling Setbacks

An intense regime change in South Africa, just ten years ago, led to the freedom to gamble in all forms possible in the country’s land-based facilities. Prior to the change, casinos had been built in areas known as Homelands, but they were inaccessible to most South Africans.

After its legalization, there was an explosion of gambling in the South African market. Immense profits were made and a humongous percentage of the country’s population participated. Even though lots of money could have been made, South African gambling laws were still not amended in favor of internet gambling.

After extensive research on the subject was done in 2008, the South African government passed amendments to the National Gambling Act which would allow for the implementation of a regulatory and licensing regime for interactive gambling. Unfortunately, legal and technical issues dramatically slowed the progress of the government. They still haven’t legalized the licensing of online casinos in the country.

Fortunately for those who wish to gamble online, the same amendment allows punters to play on foreign gambling sites. Unfortunately for punters, the current lack of public interest in the subject will not help to get legislation passed on behalf of South African licensed online casinos.

Current studies indicate that the South African interest in gambling has dropped significantly. Specialists believe this is due to the fact that ten years of legal gambling has killed the novelty of the process. Though numbers have dropped, there is still a steady gambling community.

Locals should not hold their breath if they are waiting for South African licensed gaming sites or sites that offer play in Afrikaans. The current setbacks experienced by the government indicate that such ideas will not be changing into reality anytime soon. Internet gambling in South Africa will not be hindered on foreign sites, and a few sites even accept the South African rand.