South African egaming bill to be tabled this week

South Africa’s new online gambling bill is expected to be introduced to parliament this week as the country moves closer to overhauling its gaming laws, eGaming Review understands.

South African Democratic Alliance MP Geordin Hill-Lewis is to table the bill, as revealed by eGR last month, before the country’s parliament, governed by the African National Congress party.

The bill will repeal the 2008 National Gambling Act and legalise online casino products for the first time in the country while also introducing a new licensing procedure for operators, suppliers and key personnel.

Following its introduction, the bill will lie open for a period of one or two months to allow for public comments to be made.

Once public comments have been received, the bill will progress to the country’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, which has the power to make changes or amendments to the legislation based upon the comments before being sent back to Parliament for a vote.

Land-based casino products make up more than 70% of South Africa’s gaming market, but the vertical’s annual growth has recently peaked at 10%. Sports betting, in comparison, has reported growth of 19%.