Intralot launches South African fixed-odds site
JustBet.co.za goes live online and on mobile following successful licence application in January.
Intralot South Africa has announced the launch of online and mobile fixed-odds sports betting sites, which went live on 1 June.
The launch, under the company’s JustBet brand, comes after Intralot South Africa was granted a fixed-odds sports betting licence by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board in January. The licence covers online, mobile and telephone betting across the country, as well as land-based sports betting in the Western Cape province.
Commenting on the launch Intralot’s managing director of Africa “ Sub-Sahara region, Dr Yannis Rondiris said: “With our new websites we are offering to our customers in Western Cape, and countrywide, the opportunity to bet online in a responsible way at any time and at any place of their convenience. “
All forms of online gambling apart from fixed-odds sports betting are currently banned in South Africa, following a ruling by the North Gauteng High Court, with harsh penalties including fines and prison terms threatened for those flouting the ban.
This move saw the North Guateng High Court decree that Swaziland-licensed Casino Enterprises “ which owned the Piggs Peak land-based and online casinos in South Africa “ was operating illegally. Casino Enterprises then lodged an appeal against the ruling, only to see it dismissed at the Bloemfontein Court of Appeals in October last year.
Betfair then introduced an IP ban in February to ensure South African customers were unable to access the exchange betting site, but announced plans to apply for a fixed-odds licence and re-enter the market at a later date.