The fate of the proposed Remote Gambling Bill is set to be decided once the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry reconvenes in a few weeks' time, but the outlook is not very positive.
If passed, the Bill would legalise online gambling in SA, but it faces strong opposition from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which previously stressed government has no intention to propose the legalisation of online gambling in SA.
DA shadow minister of trade and industry Geordin Hill-Lewis, who initially gazetted the proposed law as a private member's Bill, says it will face stiff resistance when the portfolio committee rules on a motion of desirability in the coming weeks.
This week has seen the conclusion of three weeks of public hearings on the Bill, with presentations being made by 17 interested parties, says Hill-Lewis.
Considering the opposition to the legalisation of online gambling, Hill-Lewis concedes the" writing is most likely on the wall" for the Bill, but says attempts would be made to lobby portfolio committee members in a bid to gain support for online gambling, before the committee meets again.
The DTI previously noted online gambling is not desirable and has raised objections to the proposed DA Bill, saying: "In our view, no amount of control will adequately curb the harm that may be caused to South African citizens by online gambling, hence we reiterate that it must remain a banned activity."
However, Hill-Lewis hit back at the DTI, accusing government of not having considered the issue of online gambling in depth, and hopes the Bill will lead to more serious engagement.
He previously criticised government's "moralistic" stance on online gambling, saying it is inappropriate for government to adopt this approach. "There are also social ills associated with alcohol, but it is legal.
"We say government will never be able to curb illegal online gambling; it's simply impossible. Thus online gambling needs to be regulated and it must be made sure it is only offered by legal operators."
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