Online gambling ‘no threat to casinos’

CAPE TOWN — Internet gambling was expected to involve only about 2% of the gambling population compared with the 80% engaged in land-based casino activity, according to the trade and industry department.

The figures were used to rebut claims by the Casino Association of SA that the introduction of online gambling would have negative consequences for casinos.

“There is no apparent threat to the land-based casino from interactive gambling,” trade and industry acting deputy director- general Fungai Sibanda told Parliament’s trade and industry committee this week.

He also said that it was the market that would determine the financial viability of internet gambling.

Sibanda was responding to the litany of suggested amendments to the National Gambling Amendment Bill made by gambling operators, civil society and religious groups. The bill will legalise internet gambling for the first time.

Sibanda also rejected the demand by casino operators that they be automatically licensed to operate internet gambling, saying there was no known jurisdiction in the world that gave automatic licences.

The licensing process had to be transparent, fair and open to allow new players into the industry. Sibanda stressed that person to person betting exchanges, as proposed by UK operator Betfair, would not be introduced before research into its implications was finalised.

This was a long way off.

Regulations issued by Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa would determine the registration and verification process for all players.

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