South African parliament rejects online gambling licensing and regulation

It appears that the South African government’s anti-online casino gambling stance is now firmly entrenched after over a decade of indecision and repeated enquiries and commissions.

On Thursday a proposal to regulate and licence online gambling which had already been rejected by the Trade and Industry Committee of the National Assembly went to debate on the floor, sponsored by Geordin Hill-Lewis, an MP from the official Opposition, the Democratic Alliance Party.

Lewis Hill’s Remote Gaming Bill proposal was tabled, giving MPs an opportunity to support it or agree with the Trade and Industry Committee’s rejection.

Whilst there was some support from a minority political party, the overwhelming majority of MPs decided to support the committee’s finding,