Betfair to cut off South African online gamblers

International online gambling group Betfair has announced that it is to bow to court decisions in South Africa declaring online gambling illegal by cutting off South African online punters from February 14.

From that date, the betting company will block SA-based IP addresses, Betfair public affairs manager Tom Tuxworth has announced. “Our Web site is in the process of being IP-blocked to the entire country.”

South Africans have been advised to withdraw their funds before the cut-off date.

Tuxworth says the betting company’s decision to shut down South African internet punters is as a direct result of last year’s ruling by the South African courts that online gambling takes place at the point of access, and not at the operator’s servers. The decision has taken some time to reach because a legal review of the company’s position following the ruling had to be carried out, along with internal company technical procedures.

Cynics have noted that Betfair has applied for a traditional back-only sportsbook licence in the Western Cape under the present regulatory framework which permits licensing for sports betting companies.

The South African government continues to ponder its long-running study of online gambling and whether it should be regulated and licensed.