The Casino Association of South Africa is set to roll out a new program to educate South Africans about the risks of illegal online gambling.
The new initiative will run through the first quarter of 2016 with a focus on serious issues involved with illegal gambling. The campaign will also serve as a warning to players as well as operators of the penalties in store for them is the government takes action against them.
“We’ve been tracking the incidence of illegal and unregulated online gambling as an industry and are very concerned at the growth in usage and operations which are targeting unsuspecting South African players,” said, Themba Ngobese, chief executive officer of CASA. “It may all seem like harmless fun to gamble online, but players are completely unprotected and operators are not registered or regulated to run a business in our country.”
Players participating in illegal online gambling and operators offering illegal services face a R10 million fine or 10 years in prison.
“Players need to be warned that if they win online, firstly there is no legislation or guarantee that the operator will pay at all; and secondly any winnings will be forfeited by your credit card company to the state,” Ngobese said.
“It is extremely concerning to see numerous websites which blatantly use the South African flag on their home page and state they accept South African Rands (ZAR) and are ‘verified’, when it’s all completely illegal. They are luring unsuspecting players to spend and lose their hard-earned money offshore with no protection to players and tax return back into our country.”
Citizens are urged to contact their provincial gambling board with any information or email [email protected].
Vanenhox
8 years ago
Sr. Member
A ten million rand fine and/or ten years in prison...and just in case that doesn't scare you enough if you are stupid enough to play anyhow, and you happen to win all winnings are subject to confiscation. I know I'm a player and I write on this site in favor of legalized gambling; BUT COME ON! Anybody regardless of where...
A ten million rand fine and/or ten years in prison...and just in case that doesn't scare you enough if you are stupid enough to play anyhow, and you happen to win all winnings are subject to confiscation. I know I'm a player and I write on this site in favor of legalized gambling; BUT COME ON! Anybody regardless of where they stand on the issue should have some clue that this is an extreme policy...If you don't like it REGULATE IT. Don't send harmless players to jail...good gracious.
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jade
8 years ago
Super Hero
I don't know where Cnichas is from, I assume South Africa. Cnichas makes a powerful statement about gambling there and I can certainly see the point. I wonder if South African players know where they can play online because there is no mention of it. Americans have much in common with South African players, although our...
I don't know where Cnichas is from, I assume South Africa. Cnichas makes a powerful statement about gambling there and I can certainly see the point. I wonder if South African players know where they can play online because there is no mention of it. Americans have much in common with South African players, although our government isn't quite as rough on us. There are too many countries that need to get gambling regulations up to date and let players get on with it without fear.
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Gambinobit
8 years ago
Hero Member
This is absolute rubbish the only reason the very badly run and corrupt government in South Africa is attempting such a stupid campaign is for one reason and one reason only and that is because trhey would struggle to steal from and control this, they have much bigger things to worry about like the ever increasing violent...
This is absolute rubbish the only reason the very badly run and corrupt government in South Africa is attempting such a stupid campaign is for one reason and one reason only and that is because trhey would struggle to steal from and control this, they have much bigger things to worry about like the ever increasing violent crime, the Rands volitilty, the water and electricity crises they really need to wake up and stop wasting resources and stolen TAX money on such stupid things really come on man!!!!
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