Online Gambling in South Africa is Illegal Rules Supreme Court

After years of delays, the much awaited appeals hearing initiated by the Piggs Peak Online Casino, which is located and licensed outside the South African jurisdiction was heard by the Supreme Court of Appeals in South Africa.

The foreign based online casino in South Africa challenged the legality of South African legislation which prohibited South African residents from gambling at foreign based online casinos.

After losing every single hearing, the online casino just kept appealing the verdict on a number of legitimate points until the case finally reached the highest court in South Africa.

The South African Court quickly ruled against the casino, stating in its final opinion that until the South African government finalizes a new set of South African gambling laws which will include licenses to operate online casinos in South Africa for foreign based online gambling ventures.

Piggs Peak Casino, the majority of whose revenue came from South African gamblers refused to forbid South Africans from gambling at its online casino all the way up to the verdict. The moment that the verdict was read, Piggs Peak immediately closed its virtual doors to South African online gamblers.

“The only legally recognized activity via the internet in RSA is online betting within the racing and betting environment,” the NGB said in a statement in a February 11, 2011 statement. As of now, anyone arrested for gambling online or even playing online bingo games in South Africa will face up to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay a R10 million fine.

Many South African residents question the wisdom of anti-gambling laws as a time when the country’s tax base is decreasing more and more each year.

More South Africans of European descent are fleeing the rape gangs and violent crime including carjacking, robberies and violent home invasions that plague the country and make it one of the most dangerous places on Earth.

Howard Berchowitz, managing director of Casino Enterprises, said that with this court ruling there are no avenues left for them to pursue.

An amendment to South Africa’s gambling law is in the works, which will allow licenses to be issued to online casinos.

This National Gambling Amendment Act was signed into law in 2008 and is just waiting promulgation. So far the South African government, which is slower than a quadriplegic cheetah stalking a blind turtle, has set up one of a series of meetings to discuss the location for future discussions concerning promulgation.

“Your guess is as good as mine as to if or when licensing will happen. You may not play on an internet casino from South Africa, but gang rape is still fair game,” Berchowitz added.