At a time when most countries are working towards finding some sort of silver lining in the regulation of poker, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa ruled last week that online poker is now illegal in their country. The law is currently in the appeals process, which will allow online casinos ample time to operate between a final ruling is reached.

Breaking the new law is a crime punishable up to R10 million ($1.354 million) and 10 years of jail, affecting all players, site operators, and umbrellas out all the way to sites choosing to advertise poker or internet service providers (ISPs) allowing them to operate.

The law seems like an egregious outcome for such a harmless pastime. Many critics believe that it was a decision pushed into action by many of the brick-and-mortar casinos not profiting from the online commerce. Regardless of reason, the outcome makes it seem pale in comparison. It’s a sad state of affairs for poker in South Africa.
From carbonpoker.com Ray Finkle

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