South Africa a little closer to legalized online gambling

The week, the Parliament in South Africa passed the NAAB, National Gambling
Amendment Bill, after research and studying online gambling. The Parliament
got the bill in August for deliberation.

If the bill is actually signed into law, the new bill would make it legal to
for licensing interactive online gambling venues.

All online casinos, poker rooms etc.. would be required to obtain a national
license for staff and any equipment utilized by the gaming software. Players
who choose to play online will have to register and set up accounts with
financial institutions that have been previously authorized, as a location
where any winnings could be paid.

Ensuring gambling revenues are being properly taxed, player protection,
safeguarding children from accessing gambling sites and retaining online
players in South Africa are the main goal of the Department of Trade and
Industry. In their line of thinking, lifting the ban on online gambling would
keep the industry from being driven underground.

In order to enact the bill, the National Council of Provinces must approve it,
then it will be sent to the president.