Victor Chandler bullish on SA egaming licence
Victor Chandler has told eGR he's confident South Africa will push ahead with plans to issue egaming licences in 2011, despite the current ban hanging over the country.
Victor Chandler is confident his company will be one of the first to receive an egaming licence in South Africa when they are issued next year, despite the current ban on online gaming in the country.
Chandler’s statement follows yesterday’s announcement that Piggs Peak, the online casino at the centre of the recent North Guateng court ruling banning egaming, would be appealing the August 20 decision.
However, Chandler (pictured) said South African authorities were still expected to make egaming licences available in 2011, and the chairman of the company that bears his name said the operator would be at the head of the queue.
“I firmly believe that the licensing of all gaming products is the way forward for South Africa, I already have the sports betting licence and look forward to a speedy application for the egaming licence, which will undoubtedly result in the requirement for more employees in my offices in Cape Town”.
Chandler also confirmed that the company’s South African-licensed sports betting site, which launched in June ahead of the football World Cup in South Africa, was unaffected by the ban, which did not apply to sports betting.
“As far as I am concerned it is business as usual. I am a licensed sports betting operator by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board,” said Chandler.
A date has yet to be set for Piggs Peak’s appeal, to be heard in the Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein.
Ladbrokes has also submitted an application for an online sportsbook licence from the Western Cape, in partnership with African casino group KaiRo.