Even though online gambling is often illegal, it has proven itself to be popular all over the world. South Africa is an example of a place where online gambling is both illegal and popular. Here, the number of punters continues to increase in spite of the fact of its being illegal.  Because the activity itself is illegal in South Africa, it is very difficult to estimate the number of online gamblers. This however, has not stopped Professor Peter Collins of the National Responsible Gambling Programme, who estimates it is probably as popular in South Africa as in the rest of the world. In the world at large he says that online gambling accounts for approximately two percent of all gambling.  As the level of technology continues to grow and to advance throughout the world, Collins predicts that this figure as well will grow. Collins expects this percentage to increase to about five percent by the year 2010.  With the increase in the number of players, the number of losers and the amount of losses can also expect to rise. Using the figure of five percent, which means that the current global loss of R240-million would be expected to grow to approximately R600-million by that year. 

In general it is accepted that one of the main appeals of online gambling is the level of convenience it offers, along with the wide variety of games.  The Piggs Peak online casino Group marketing manager Wendy Graaf, supports this view at says that the number of players has increased along with the increase in the use of the Internet.

According to the National Gambling Act of 2004 an individual is not allowed to engage in or make available an interactive game. An exception is made for those that have been authorized by the National Gambling Act or some national law. There is however, a possible loophole in the act that may exist concerning the country in which the gambling server is placed.  Because of this loophole Piggs Peak has been prompted to go to court against the Gauteng and National gambling boards. They do this to argue that the Internet gambling and advertising of Piggs Peak Internet Casino is legal and in an effort to better define the laws as they relate to the location of the server.

According to Piggs Peak Internet Casino Group marketing manager Wendy Graaf, Piggs Peak Internet Casino takes the position that they are licensed by the Swaziland government and that since their Internet casino is in Swaziland, gambling on Piggs Peak is legal.

It is impossible to argue in the Eastern Cape, based on an argument concerning the location of the server however, that Internet gambling is legal. This is due to the fact that the laws prohibiting online gambling are quite clearly stated.  According to Keith Harvey, who is the head of Legal Affairs at the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board the actual position of the server is not relevant. Harvey argues that the Eastern Cape Gambling & Betting Act clearly states that no person who is physically present in the province shall be allowed to participate in a game of chance through the use of interactive television, a telephone, electronic mail, fax, or Internet transmission.

Posted on: November 22, 2005

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