February 24 2004 at 02:06AM
Thousands of people in the online gambling industry would lose their jobs if the new National Gambling Bill is enacted, says attorney Reinhardt Buys.
The National Gambling Bill, effectively banning Internet gambling and the advertising of online casinos, is soon to replace the 1996 National Gambling Act.
The bill would in effect criminalise online gambling, says Buys, an Internet lawyer who assists a number of online gambling companies.
He says the gambling legislation that is in place does not address Internet gambling, but it is accepted that a person may not run an online casino from within South Africa's borders.
About 250 000 South Africans gamble online
A survey in February last year by the National Gambling Board found there were thousands of online gambling websites and that 0,6 percent of South Africans - about 250 000 - gambled online.
The Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board says no legitimate jobs would be jeopardised.
"Only persons who are employed by persons exploiting gambling opportunities accessed through the Internet may potentially be affected," the board said in a statement.
Most gambling websites were based outside South Africa and the gambling industry was not highly labour intensive.
The board's chief executive officer, ****ouw Lubbe, said that under the bill the National Gambling Board would oversee all activities relating to gambling. There were thousands of gambling websites and officials did not know how they would police them. - Staff writer@@@@
Thousands of people in the online gambling industry would lose their jobs if the new National Gambling Bill is enacted, says attorney Reinhardt Buys.
The National Gambling Bill, effectively banning Internet gambling and the advertising of online casinos, is soon to replace the 1996 National Gambling Act.
The bill would in effect criminalise online gambling, says Buys, an Internet lawyer who assists a number of online gambling companies.
He says the gambling legislation that is in place does not address Internet gambling, but it is accepted that a person may not run an online casino from within South Africa's borders.
About 250 000 South Africans gamble online
A survey in February last year by the National Gambling Board found there were thousands of online gambling websites and that 0,6 percent of South Africans - about 250 000 - gambled online.
The Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board says no legitimate jobs would be jeopardised.
"Only persons who are employed by persons exploiting gambling opportunities accessed through the Internet may potentially be affected," the board said in a statement.
Most gambling websites were based outside South Africa and the gambling industry was not highly labour intensive.
The board's chief executive officer, ****ouw Lubbe, said that under the bill the National Gambling Board would oversee all activities relating to gambling. There were thousands of gambling websites and officials did not know how they would police them. - Staff writer@@@@
