Ban is scheduled to begin on Tuesday and comes after online casino PiggsPeak.com failed in its efforts to have an earlier decision from the North Gauteng High Court overturned.
Wednesday 8th February 2012
Online betting exchange and casino operator Betfair has decided to exit the South African market and is set to begin blocking access to its services for all players logging in from the African nation from early next week.
According to a report from business technology and information site ITWeb.co.za, Betfair took the momentous decision to block all IP addresses based in South Africa following a ruling from the Bloemfontein Supreme Court of Appeal that declared online gambling to be illegal.
Betfair’s ban is scheduled to start from Tuesday and comes after Microgaming-powered online casino PiggsPeak.com lost its appeal to have an earlier decision from the North Gauteng High Court banning all forms of iGaming overturned.
Betfair’s Public Affairs Manager, Tom Tuxworth, revealed that the firm’s services are in the process of being ‘IP-blocked to the entire country’ with all existing accounts from South Africa-based punters set to be suspended from February 14. He advised all customers resident in the African nation to withdraw their funds before this date while declaring that the company is in the process of applying under the existing framework for a traditional back-only sportsbook licence in the Western Cape.
