Draft online gambling bill published in South African gazette

The wheels turn slowly as the South African Draft Remote Gambling Bill of 2014 was published in the Government Gazette this week, but it still has a long way to go.

The bill, supported by DA Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry, Geordin Hill-Lewis is now open for public comment until Friday, 23 May 2014.

Thereafter it will move to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry for debate and if approved will be put before Parliament for a final vote.

The process is still expected to take another 9 months all things going according to plan.

“It is important to note that Parliament and Portfolio Committee take the final decision on whether the Bill is passed into law or not,” Hill-Lewis said. “So it is, at this stage, far from certain that the Bill will definitely become law.”

The bill covers regulation of remote gambling in the Republic of South Africa, promotes the concept of uniform standards, tackles problem gambling sensitivities, age restriction issues and anti-fraud, money laundering and criminal aspects.

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