It is now illegal to gamble using digital products in South Africa, the Gauteng Gambling Board said after a Friday court ruling.
The judgement on the jurisdiction of online gambling transactions in the country was handed down by the North Gauteng High Court on August 20.
This means that online gambling operators in South Africa and players will be in contravention of the law, and according to Business Day, could face a fine of R10-million or 10 years in jail, or both.
According to the Gauteng Gambling Board’s head of legal services, Lucky Lukhwareni, online casinos are now liable for prosecution.
“That’s why we approached the media to alert them of the judgement which makes online casino operations illegal, and if they continue we will have them arrested and fight for conviction,” Lukhwareni said in a media statement.