Lads expects SA sports betting licence in a few weeks
Following a recent ruling outlawing online gambling in South Africa, Ladbrokes has said it expects to have a sports betting licence there in a few weeks and to be live by early 2011.
Ladbrokes expects to receive an online gaming licence in South Africa in the next few weeks and hopes this could lead to legalising online casinos in the country, despite its current ban on egaming, the operator has told eGaming Review.
Following Victor Chandler’s statement yesterday that his company expects to receive a South African egaming licence next year, a Ladbrokes’ spokesperson said it hopes to receive its sports betting licence from the Western Cape Gambling & Racing Board for its joint venture with African casino group KaiRo “in the coming weeks”, and get its system live by “early 2011″.
The Ladbrokes spokesperson said the recent ruling in the North Gauteng High Court outlawing online gambling “does not affect” licensed sports betting operators. “The ruling was targeted to outlaw the Swaziland Casino operators such as Piggs Peak and Silver Sands, who were extremely active in the market”, he added.
Ladbrokes also commented on the legal position of online casinos in South Africa, adding: “We’re hoping that this is a step towards legalising online casinos, for which there is no provision at present.”
Piggs Peak, the online casino at the centre of the North Gauteng ruling, was granted the right to appeal the 20 August ruling earlier this week.