South Africa high Court Rules Clearly Against Online Gambling

Residents in the US have no idea if they are breaking any laws when they go on their computers and play online poker. The ambiguity of the laws in the US leave courts around the country trying to decipher through the grey areas in the US online gambling laws.

South Africa residents now fear they will have the same problems after Wednesday. The North Gauteng High Court has made a ruling that will make online gambling illegal in the country. The court ruled that it is illegal to use digital products to gamble in South Africa.

Although the law clearly states the intent to criminalize Internet gambling, residents of South Africa are concerned that a similar situation could occur in South Africa as what is taking place in the US. The government may have a hard time enforcing the ban.

The burden in South Africa has been placed on outside company's, Internet service providers, and financial institutions to keep online gambling out of the country. Much like in the US, the financial institutions may not have the technology needed to stop processing Internet gambling transactions.

The one major difference between the South African ban and the one in the US, is that it is illegal for citizens to gamble online. In the US, gamblers have not been prosecuted for playing online. Instead, the country has gone after the company's processing the payments.

The South African ban could be a small step backwards for online gaming companies. South Africa has an online gambling market estimated worth up to $140 million. As part of the ban, advertisements for online gambling are now also illegal on billboards, television, or print.

August 25, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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