South African Parliament calls for input on Remote Gambling Bill 2024

A new legislative proposal, the Remote Gambling Bill 2024, was published in the Government Gazette on 8 November, with Mr. Roger William Tobias Chance, MP for the Democratic Alliance, announcing intentions to establish a regulatory framework for remote and online gambling in South Africa. 

The Bill, introduced in accordance with section 73(2) of the Constitution, is set to be presented in the National Assembly, with an explanatory summary provided as per Rule 276(1)(c) of the National Assembly Rules.

The current National Gambling Act, 2004 (Act No. 7 of 2004), alongside the National Gambling Amendment Act, 2008, initially addressed interactive gambling provisions, including player registration, account management, licensing conditions, and safeguarding vulnerable individuals. However, neither the 2008 Amendment nor the supporting regulations have been fully operationalized, leaving online gambling largely unregulated in South Africa.

Over the past decade, this lack of regulation has led to significant public participation in unregulated online gambling, contributing to concerns about the rule of law, criminal activity, and unprotected consumers. The absence of a formal regulatory environment also results in lost revenue and employment opportunities to foreign jurisdictions.

The proposed Remote Gambling Bill seeks to rectify this by establishing a robust legal framework. Key objectives include:

• Regulating and licensing remote gambling activities across provinces with provincial licensing authorities managing local enforcement and the National Gambling Board overseeing national compliance.
• Promoting responsible gambling practices and setting standards for fair and secure operations.
• Implementing measures to protect minors and vulnerable populations from gambling-related harms.
• Enforcing compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) to prevent criminal misuse of gambling platforms.

Public feedback is essential to shaping the final content of the Remote Gambling Bill. Individuals, organizations, and stakeholders are invited to submit written comments to the Speaker of the National Assembly within 30 days from the notice's publication.