South Africa's National Gambling Board had opined that there was a need to license and regulate online gambling in the country. Following that online gambling was made illegal while the legislators worked on a bill that would put into effect the Board’s concerns.
Last year the bill was introduced in the South African parliament intending to set up regulations for the online gaming industry. It was passed by the Parliament in May 2008 and converted to an Act. Last week the South African President Thabo Mbeki approved and signed the National Gambling Amendment Act. Online gambling is now legal in South Africa but players and operators have to wait till the regulatory framework is in place.
The issues raised by the National Gambling Board are the same that are being raised worldwide. These include player protection, prevention of minors from gambling, issues related to problem gamblers, advertising; licensing, compliance and money laundering.