Tony Mincione wrote: LEt's be clear: It is illegal to play on Betfair, or any gambling site, that does not have a licence here, while in SA. You don't have to read between the lines, it's specific.
You are able to connect to geographically blocked sites by using a VPN. You are able to make payments to and from those sites using credit cards and electronic transfers, but as you do it you are breaking multiple laws specifically prohibiting that, and there will be a long lasting digital trail.
I have only heard of big winners being caught, and then only because of importing the winnings. If you are a foreign national playing with your overseas funds from here, must be a grey area although when in Rome...
Betfair did the blocking themselves when it was pointed out to them in a public forum in SA that they were aiding and abetting SA citizens. Probably keeping their slate clean should they ever apply for a licence.
If you read the Gambling Act, the SA position is basically this: the government is unable to protect it's citizens from gambling crime overseas, but it sits with the fall out of gambling disasters if and when, so they allow and tax legal local gambling with some of that money earmarked for social responsibility, and therefore have specifically banned ex-SA gambling.
Well my account is already funded, and I wouldn't be withdrawing any funds until I get back to England, so I don't think that leaving a trail would be an issue. It's hard to believe Betfair would do anything about a foreign punter betting with a vpn
I have no intention of breaking any laws, but if I use a vpn how will I even know if I'm technically breaking the law, as you say it's a grey area... I mean I tend to use vpn everywhere I go anyway for security reasons, so how would I even know if I'm doing the wrong thing in South Africa? I've probably done it in a country before without realising the local laws
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