South African parliament adopts national gambling amendment bill

The South African Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has adopted a shortened version of the National Gambling Amendment Bill which maintains the ban on online gaming but permits online sports betting.

The Department of Trade and Industry had previously introduced a comprehensive amendment bill, however, the committee resolved to deal with three technical issues only in order to address governance challenges as expeditiously as possible, Committee Chairperson, Joanmariae Fubbs, explained.

Presented by Minister for Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, the shortened bill no longer includes proposals that would enable banks to block payments to offshore gambling websites, the regulation of bingo terminals, or the South African National Lotteries Commission being appointed as the lottery betting industry regulator.

The comprehensive amendment will, however, include a greyhound racing ban and the formation of a self-regulatory body for horse racing.

Other considerations listed in the comprehensive amendment bill, include a self-regulatory body for horse racing, a greyhound racing ban, electronic bingo terminals, betting on lottery results and online gaming which will be referred for consideration in the sixth Parliament, Fubbs said.

“Even though the committee considers these matters to be serious, the time available would not have allowed for an effective interrogation of these matters. Therefore, the committee is of the view that these amendments, adopted today, will pave the way for more comprehensive and holistic amendments to the gambling regulatory framework.”

The three amendments adopted Thursday comprise the reformation of the National Gambling Board to the National Gambling Regulator, addressing governance challenges relating to the National Gambling Policy Council and broadening the National Central Electronic Monitoring System.

A new centralised National licensing system will be implemented under the newly established National Gambling Regulator (NGR) removing the function from individual provincial authorities.

In addition, the South African Government has pledged to crack down on illegal online gambling websites who accept registration, deposits, play and withdrawals from South African citizens.

“We believe that there are two options available to government – either maintain the status quo with respect to online gambling being illegal, but then take decisive action against illegal operators, or legalise it and subject it to an effective and credible legislative and regulatory dispensation,” Themba Ngobese, chief executive officer of South African Casino Association, CASA, said.

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