AN ANALYSIS ON ILLEGAL ONLINE GAMBLING ACTIVITIES: THE COMPARATIVE STUDY WITHIN THE GAUTENG, NORTH WEST AND LIMPOPO PROVINCES

Abstract

The fastest growing form of gambling in the world is online gambling. This study is the first step to understanding the reasons behind the mushrooming of illegal online gambling shops around the three provinces as well as the response by the local law enforcement agencies regarding the scourge. The qualitative component consisted of interviews with focus groups from the three selected provinces of Limpopo, Gauteng and North West. From the findings it emerged that illegal online gambling operators have the same mode of operation across the three provinces. The interior and exterior of their shops looks exactly the same. Access controls to the inside of these shops are all controlled by security gates, security personnel and cameras. Slots machines that are played by punters are also the same within the three provinces that are comparable. The most common slots game machine found are sizzling hot, cool diamonds, heart of gold, lucky reels, fire queen, crazy cows, kiss, rainbow riches, and little pigs. Through intensive enquiries by the first author, it has surfaced that software of these slots machines are sourced from foreign countries like Greece, Russia, Malta, Finland and Bulgaria. According to reliable information obtain from one syndicate member by the researcher, this software is not sold to illegal online gambling owners in South Africa, but they pay a retainer fee every month to access the software. Based on the above findings, recommendations are provided to assist relevant stakeholders to address the situation.

Keywords

• Illegal gambling, Online, Operators