It is decided by the South African Ministry of Trade and Industry that only 2% of gamblers will be involved in online gambling compared with 80% of gamblers being involved in land based casinos.

The South African government's Department of Trade and Industry has been reported as predicting according to reports in the South African publication Business Day, that Internet gambling will ultimately absorb only about 2 percent of the potential gambling population. This may be compared to the 80 percent of gamblers that are involved in land-based casino activity. 

These are the data that have been employed to refute the claims of the Casino Association of SA. They have argued that the introduction of online gambling will have a negative impact on the gambling activities of its land based casino members.

Fungai Sibanda, who is the acting director-general of the Department of Trade and Industry, told the trade and industry committee of Parliament that there is no obvious threat to the land-based casino industry from interactive gambling, using these figures. He also claimed that ultimately the gambling market would decide in regard to the financial practicality of Internet gambling.

This was in response to current suggestions that are being made by by gambling operators, religious groups and civil society that the National Gambling Amendment Bill be amended. It is the intent of this bill to both legalize and to  regulate internet gambling. This will be a first for South Africa.

The demand by land based casino operators that they be automatically licensed to operate internet gambling was also rejected be Sibanda who said that automatic licensing was unknown throughout the world.

Sibanda pointed out the necessity of the licensing process being transparent, fair and open so as to allow new players to join the industry. Sibanda also indicated that there would be no introduction of person to person betting exchanges until the implications of such a system were finalized which he said is a long way off.

Mandisi Mpahlwa, the Trade Industry Minister has said that he will determine the registration and verification processes to be used with all players.

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