19-10-2007 South African casinos call for more research into online gambling taxation

The Chief Executive of the Casino Association of South Africa said the National Gambling Amendment Bill does not specify how much taxes interactive gambling operators will have to pay. "To ensure consistency and fairness, pure interactive operators must pay a rate of tax no less than those paid by land-based casinos and other sectors of SA’s gambling industry," commented Derek Auret.

The National Gambling Amendment Bill aims to eliminate illegal interactive gambling and to protect players through strict licensing conditions and regulations as well as through the creation of dispute resolution mechanisms.

The bill, which is supported by SA's Inkatha Freedom Party, lso makes advertising and promotion of interactive gambling unlawful. "It will also be unlawful for offshore operators to advertise interactive gambling in the republic. Any person who provides advertising facilities to such offshore operators will be committing an offence," said Brian Muthwa, director of legislative drafting for the Department of Trade and Industry.