An attempt by First National Bank (FNB) to appeal a December court order forbidding it to continue with its Million-a-Month competition was dismissed on Tuesday, the National Lotteries Board said.
”Judge Willie Seriti dismissed the application by the bank to appeal and it would be illegal for FNB to continue with the competition,” spokesperson Serchan Naidoo said.
FNB filed an application to appeal after a judge restrained them from conducting the competition on December 15 last year.
The decision followed an application by the lottery board that the competition be declared unlawful in terms of the Lotteries Act of 1997.
The board also claimed that the ”subscription” paid by participants was a forfeiture of interest on their accounts.
Following the dismissal on Tuesday, members of the public have been advised to refrain from entering the competition as they would be seen to be participating in an illegal lottery, he said.
”FNB has, however, indicated that it will petition the chief justice for leave to appeal,” Naidoo said.
The bank could not immediately be reached for comment. – Sapa