Gambling legislation in South Africa is being formulated, along with stricter advertising regulations, in a move aimed at enhancing regulations on gambling.
Parks Tau, the Trade and Industry Minister, affirmed that the National Gambling Policy Council is in a haste in the enactment of new gambling regulations in line with a review of the existing laws to ensure uniformity between national and provincial laws.
Tau said:
The resolution was to fast-track the development of a Bill to address gambling challenges in South Africa.
According to the announcement concerning the new gambling regulations, tougher regulations governing gambling advertisement will be introduced to make gamblers more conscious and to combat gambling addiction.
The regulations are being established due to the growing concerns over illegal gambling activities. Industry estimates show that unlicensed offshore operators now account for almost two-thirds of South Africa’s online casino market, and the South African Casinos Association (SABA) estimates that the black market costs the economy more than 50 billion rand ($3.05 billion) annually.
SABA Chief Executive Officer Sean Coleman recently said:
While much of the recent public and media debate has focused on the growth of legal online betting, the existential crisis lies in the scale and impact of illegal offshore operators that continue to target South African consumers unchecked.
The planned reforms aim to improve enforcement, harmonize gambling laws across the country, and create a more consistent regulatory framework for the industry.