Gambling ads in South Africa get daytime ban

Even Nelson Mandela probably had a dime on Spain to take the cup

South Africa, a country with a great history of moral and ethical actions (Aprar-what? That doesn’t even sound like a real word), has decided to push all online gambling advertisements on TV and movie screens to an after-dark only policy.

The decision, which mirrors an earlier move enacted by the UK, was passed down by the South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) who amended the National Gambling Act – in a remarkable coincidence – shortly after the completion of the World Cup. Advertisements for land-based and online gambling businesses will now be relegated to the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. ostensibly to prevent children from seeing them.

Zodwa Ntuli, a spokesperson for the DTI recently told the press that the move is open to criticisms from industry insiders.

“We have published this [proposed] regulation for public comment and we would like the stakeholders, especially in the industry, to give us their views,” she told the press.

South Africa has been in the process of debating the merits of online gambling for years, with lawmakers currently reconsidering proposals to legalize and regulate the industry, according to Casino Gambling Web.