South African Online Gambling legislation hits some snags.

[Stormbind]

South Africa's proposed online gambling bill has been criticized from many corners. Land based casino's are angling to be given automatic licenses and if not to have online casinos subjected to the same tax rate and regulations they are. Unions are opposed due to the negative impact gambling can have on the poor. Others take issue with certain parts of the bill believing it to be flawed. For example a proposal to only allow companies based in South Africa to operate may cause trouble with the WTO. However it is now a near certainty that in some form or another online gambling will be legal in South Africa in the near future.

(Search Google News for "south africa online gambling" for more information.)

In countries which have land based and online gambling services are taxes usually the same ? Are they generally run by the same people ? And are regulatory requirements generally the same, or more/less stringent for online sites ?

[Legislurker]

Um, lets see. Nothing new really. Online casinos and all their attendant interests hate remote gaming. They want a monopoly. Exepct them to lay down massive bribes. You will need massive influence within the ANC to get it thru. If someone with more money wants it stopped, it will be. The only people who want remote gaming are consumers. Most remote gaming firms are in OFCs favored for their tax regimes. SHould be a damn OECD rule, stay the [censored] away from the internet for every givernment. Can you teach me some nice Afrikans swear words for use against gaming opponents so formaggio doesnt lecture me on my language?

[Stormbind]

Parliament is not the most well functioning democratic institution in South Africa. If the main leadership wants the bill to pass, it will. Abortion and gay marriage was pushed through despite opposition from social conservatives and I dealt online gaming will be more controversial.

Seems to be in a fresh market like SA land based casino's should use the brand they have built up to leverage themselves into the online market.

PM me for Afrikaans swear words.