Online gamblers forfeit R1m winnings to State

ILLEGAL gamblers have forfeited over R1 million of their winnings to the State, says Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies. Unprecedented court proceedings led to the gamblers’ unlawful winnings of about R1.25 million being confiscated and forfeited to the State.

Davies said online gambling is illegal and should South African citizens participate in online gambling and they win, their winnings are the proceeds of an illegal activity and it will therefore be confiscated and forfeited to the State.

The Minister had previously cautioned that online gambling is illegal.

Davies has also expressed concern that online gambling could be used to launder money.  It is on this basis that the banks continue to collaborate with the National Gambling Board to confiscate the unlawful winnings.

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Accounting Authority of the National Gambling Board, Caroline Kongwa, emphasised that besides the forfeiture of unlawful winnings in favour of the State, the punters, who partake in illegal gambling activities, are liable for criminal prosecution.

“The public is hereby cautioned to be weary of online gambling offerings, as online gambling is illegal in South Africa, and thus anyone participating in any illegal online gambling activity would be unable to receive any winnings and would expose themselves to criminal prosecution,” she said.

She added that citizens caught gambling illegally or running an illegal gambling establishment like internet cafes that provide illegal online gambling will be targeted and they will face criminal charges or a fine to the maximum of R10 million or both.

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