Online Poker

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Bedford

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So i have been watching poker on Twitch TV and it really got me itching for a game. So i saw that poker stars was the popular site and decided to load up $10. Which i have been playing with this week and its been awesome!

But after chatting to a mate today, he tells me that online international sites are illegal!? And after doing a little research i see that it is... So what do i do now, are there any local legal sites or should i consider my $10 gone and stop playing?
 
Bernie said:
Silversands Poker casino is legal and local.
Click to expand...

I checked out silver sands and the concern i have is the site is signed. Can anyone confirm that they are playing on it and no issues?

Also, what do i do about the cash i loaded on pokerstars, should i withdraw it or just leave it?
 
Bedford said:
I checked out silver sands and the concern i have is the site is signed. Can anyone confirm that they are playing on it and no issues?

Also, what do i do about the cash i loaded on pokerstars, should i withdraw it or just leave it?
Click to expand...

I have no issues with SS. What do you mean by "signed". Are you referring to SSL certs - isn't that a good thing.
 
agh, finger fail...

The site isnt signed. So there is no encryption on the page. Also i checked on myBB and came across the following article:
http://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/19127-online-gambling-in-sa-is-it-legal.html

Basically states there that even SS is considered illegal...

I will call SS in a bit and see what they say about this. All i am looking to do is play a little online poker and not worry that the feds are gonna come knocking on my door.
 
yebocan said:
you can not use your SA credit card to fund any Forex platform account either...deemed illegal.
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Holy crap this is a shocker!! I didnt know that. I know of quite a few people that use forex and arent aware of this.

Bleh, so i guess ill withdraw my $10 and call it a day for online poker...
 
I've been playing Silversands Casino for years - never had a problem cashing any money out - my biggest win there was R380 000 . Cash out - two days later, it's in my account.
 
Open up a foreign account - pay in / out to said account and don't tell SARS.

They won't know if the money doesn't exit / enter SA. Also sports betting is legal online here - pretty much the only thing when it comes to online gambling.
 
EX_mrs_ant_man said:
I've been playing Silversands Casino for years - never had a problem cashing any money out - my biggest win there was R380 000 . Cash out - two days later, it's in my account.
Click to expand...

Wait till SARS takes you to the cleaners.

Only sports betting is legal in SA - other forms of online gambling ARE NOT.
 
jsheed_sa said:
Wait till SARS takes you to the cleaners.

Only sports betting is legal in SA - other forms of online gambling ARE NOT.
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Well, for 10 years, they haven't batted an eyelid!
 
jsheed_sa said:
...

Only sports betting is legal in SA - other forms of online gambling ARE NOT.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that. I was always under the impression Silversands was legal. I remember when 3piggs had to close down for ZA customers, but Silversands was allowed to still have online poker. Why was SS allowed to continue with their poker. All confusing.
 
It's illegal and all the banks flag transactions to and from online casinos and poker rooms. Silversands gets away with it because they have legit local investment companies that move funds for them.

I made quite a bit of cash on Poker Stars but when I tried to writhdraw on my CC a few years ago (before the last high court ruling) Absa blocked the transaction and I had to fight for months to send it back to Moneybookers (Skrill).

You need to go through a whole lot of hoops (international accounts/wallets) in order to "safely" get your money into SA. Putting money into casino's isn't really a problem, it's getting your money out. Again, SS gets away with it because they've jumped through the hoops for you - but I think it's only a matter of time till some nanny in government decides to take a stand.

Bernie said:
Why was SS allowed to continue with their poker. All confusing.
Click to expand...

They're not allowed. It's just that no one has done anything about it yet. Prolly not worth it to anyone at this stage.
 
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Bernie said:
Didn't know that. I was always under the impression Silversands was legal. I remember when 3piggs had to close down for ZA customers, but Silversands was allowed to still have online poker. Why was SS allowed to continue with their poker. All confusing.
Click to expand...

Probably not based in ZA and thus SARS can't touch them? However SARS can touch the punters...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_South_Africa#Online_gaming_laws

Online gaming laws[edit]
[13] The National Gambling Act 2004 prohibited both offering interactive gambling services and engaging in interactive games (games on the Internet). This rule applies to all online operators, licensed in any jurisdiction. It's however important to note interactive gambling relates specifically to games such as casino, poker and bingo. Online sports betting, online horse race betting and the business of bookmaking is lawful in South Africa, provided that the person conducting such business holds the necessary provincial bookmaker's licence(s), or is using a website with proper licence(s).

The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 that was published in July 2008 was meant to be an attempt to legalise interactive gambling in the country and make provisions for the regulation of this market. The Amendment Act was actively confronted by the interested parties (land-based gambling houses and anti-money laundering authorities). For this reason, the Act hasn't come into power yet.

On 20 August 2010 even online gambling offered through servers located outside the country was banned in South Africa. This was the result of the North Gauteng High Court judgement on the jurisdiction of online gambling transactions in the country. Consequently, both offering gambling services online and gambling online became illegal. The only exceptions are province licensed horse racing and online sports betting. Casino sites, individuals, internet service providers and banks that process payments for online gamblers are subject to a fine of R 10 million or 10 years of imprisonment, or both. Mass media channels that transmit or facilitate advertisement of online gambling services (TV and radio, newspapers and magazines, outdoor advertising agencies) are also to be held liable.[14]

The South African Department of Trade and Industry also suggested to consider penny auctions a type of online gambling and illegalise them. The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 may come into force after an appeal to a high court ruling against "interactive gambling" is heard.[15]
 
Ejeckt said:
It's illegal and all the banks flag transactions to and from online casinos and poker rooms. Silversands gets away with it because they have legit local investment companies that move funds for them.

I made quite a bit of cash on Poker Stars but when I tried to writhdraw on my CC a few years ago (before the last high court ruling) Absa blocked the transaction and I had to fight for months to send it back to Moneybookers (Skrill).

You need to go through a whole lot of hoops (international accounts/wallets) in order to "safely" get your money into SA. Putting money into casino's isn't really a problem, it's getting your money out. Again, SS gets away with it because they've jumped through the hoops for you - but I think it's only a matter of time till some nanny in government decides to take a stand.



They're not allowed. It's just that no one has done anything about it yet. Prolly not worth it to anyone at this stage.
Click to expand...

Hectic...

So basically my account has already been flagged for depositing money into poker stars, great. And there is a high chance ill have issues getting the money back, so basically if i want to withdraw money from poker stars i will need to go via some sort of international wallet...
 
I've had funds from bet365 confiscated by sars, know many that also have. Found a work around though. SS is ok if you want to take the risk losing your withdrawal.

Bedford said:
Hectic...

So basically my account has already been flagged for depositing money into poker stars, great. And there is a high chance ill have issues getting the money back, so basically if i want to withdraw money from poker stars i will need to go via some sort of international wallet...
Click to expand...

Depositing is fine, withdrawing is where you get flagged. Take it from Poker stars -> Skrill / Paypal -> your bank account / another online account. You will need to deposit with one of these methods to withdrawal. Alternatively use the funds in a webwallet for a virtual card and spend the money.
 
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theratman said:
I've had funds from bet365 confiscated by sars, know many that also have. Found a work around though. SS is ok if you want to take the risk losing your withdrawal.



Depositing is fine, withdrawing is where you get flagged. Take it from Poker stars -> Skrill / Paypal -> your bank account / another online account. You will need to deposit with one of these methods to withdrawal. Alternatively use the funds in a webwallet for a virtual card and spend the money.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I see i have access to Skrill but i dont see paypal, so i will need to setup an account. Appreciate the help.
 
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