Piggs Peak has been granted leave to appeal against a North Gauteng High Court ruling that effectively banned online gambling in SA.

The court last month found in favour of the Gauteng Gambling Board after a protracted legal battle between the online casino and the Board over the right to advertise and operate online gambling services in SA.

Many of the larger online gambling sites — including Silver Sands Casino, Piggs Peak and African Palace — blocked South Africans from using their online services following the judgment.

Silver Sands and Piggs Peak have resumed normal service in SA until the appeal is heard. However, African Palace has decided not to allow SA players to join its online platform until the court makes a ruling about the appeal.

Piggs Peak operations director Lew Saul Koor says his company has resumed its services to South Africans because the leave to appeal effectively overturns the original judgement made by the court in August. A date has not yet been set for the appeal.

A spokesman for the Gauteng Gambling Board was not available for comment, but the National Gambling Board’s spokesman Tlotliso Polaki says the board considers online gambling to be illegal in SA.

The National Gambling Board has drafted a set of regulations that will govern the practice of online gambling. However, they have yet to be promulgated.

The draft regulations make provisions for 10 additional licences for online gambling institutions. Polaki says that figure may grow, depending on the demand for online gambling licences. However, she says online gambling hopefuls shouldn’t expect to see the licensing process begin for at least another six months.

Should the high court ruling be upheld, it will have wide-ranging consequences. The Gauteng Gambling Board says anyone who facilitates online gambling will also be held responsible and could face a R10m fine, or up to 10 years in jail.

This includes the Internet service providers (ISPs) that SA consumers use to access international online gambling services. — Candice Jones, TechCentral