Dear Editor
The DA invites any person or organisation to provide comments and recommendations to it’s explanatory summary of the draft Remote Gambling Bill which will pave the way to regulate and legalise online gambling, was published in the Government Gazette for public comment on Friday, 2 September 2022. A copy of the explanatory memo can be found here.
On 10 July 2008, the National Gambling Amendment Act, 2008 was assented to by the President. The purpose of the Amendment Act was to provide for the regulation of interactive gambling. However, to date, the Amendment Act has not been brought into operation by the President and as such, interactive/online gambling is currently not regulated in South Africa. By not regulating this gambling activity, the erosion of the rule of law and criminal activity is being encouraged, while the public is not effectively protected. Concurrently, a lack of regulation is resulting in revenue and jobs being lost to other gambling jurisdictions.
The purpose of the Remote Gambling Bill is thus to fill the gap in law relating to interactive gambling. The Bill addresses the issues faced by the Amendment Act which is one of the reasons why it was never brought into effect.
The Remote Gambling Bill also aims to provide for, inter alia, the following:
- Regulating the issuing of licenses to be controlled by the relevant provincial authorities;
- Provide for procedures relating to objections from issuing of licenses;
- Regulating advertising of interactive/ online gambling entities;
- Provide for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons; and
- Ensure that there is compliance with FICA.
The DA calls on members of the public to provide their comments and recommendations to the proposed Bill within 30 days from date of the published Government Gazette. A final draft Bill will be made available, upon introduction into Parliament, after public comments have been made and considered.
Regards
Dean Macpherson MP
DA Shadow Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
