The southern hemisphere gets short shrift while making up half of the planet. Most people assume that this is because the majority of the earth’s land mass is located in the top half of the planet. As a matter of fact, 87% of the world’s population lives in regions north of the equator. The area is also home to four of the world’s five major oceans. Five of the seven continents are also located entirely or partially in the northernmost regions of the globe. In the north, you’ll find the USA, China, and the EU, three important world powers.
There is a lot of sea in the southern hemisphere, as may be seen by looking at a globe. Yet there is still a lot of land available. Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are also almost entirely present in this region. Small islands are interwoven through the huge Pacific Ocean, which tints the earth’s surface blue.
It’s a rather sizable undertaking to provide an overview of igaming throughout half the globe. There are seven separate nations in the Southern Hemisphere that are located in South America alone, and there are fourteen in Africa. Brazil has land that is located above the Equator. The most we can manage is a whistle-stop tour of the thirty-two nations that make up the world here.
American South
Internet accessibility has prevented iGaming from taking off in a lot of Latin American countries. Millions more individuals can now use 4G and 5G networks to access the internet, though, thanks to the increased availability of smartphones. There were 422 million gamers registered to play across South America by the end of 2021 as a result.
Brazil, which has the highest population density on the continent, forbids gaming. The only authorized gambling activity in the nation is the state lottery, which was outlawed in 1941. A regulated market exists in Argentina, on the other hand. A year’s worth of revenue is produced by the sector. As a result of the 2020 financial crisis, federal tax rates for internet gambling rose from two to five percent. It is a significant source of revenue for the government.
The country of New Zealand
New Zealanders enjoy playing poker. The pokies, racing, and lotteries have always been popular among Kiwis. The first pokies appeared in late 1980s in hotel lobbies and restaurants before the first casino opened in Christchurch in 1994. There are several offshore casinos to select from, however online casinos do not operate locally. On Time2Play, an impartial, expert review website, you may get a ranking of the top ones. From pokies to table and live dealer games, gamblers in the nation have access to a large variety of online games. Mobile casinos have recently increased their selection.
Australia
The country’s relationship with online gaming has a somewhat murky past. Anybody running an online casino from Australia is prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Furthermore, it declares that Australian players are not permitted to gamble in offshore casinos. The laws are not implemented due to their weakness. Australia players can thus do so without suffering any repercussions at offshore online casinos. Additionally, the IGA makes no mention of Australians accessing or playing at foreign websites being prohibited. As a result, Australians enjoy playing at online casinos and depositing and withdrawing funds are both simple.
Indonesia
Indonesian law prohibits gambling, and repeat offenders risk a six-year prison sentence. Additionally, the government has continued to restrict online gambling websites, and over 500,000 gaming accounts have been closed in the previous four years. Players use VPNs as a result to try and circumvent the law.
In South Africa
All forms of gambling, excluding horse racing, were banned in South Africa in 1965. The gaming industry was forced underground, but it was not stopped by this (it never is). The outcome was the nationwide emergence of thousands of illegal casinos.
Gambling was become legal and regulated in 1996 as a result of changes to the National Gambling Act. Additionally, there were national lottery and casino gaming. Additionally, the National Gambling Board was established to enforce laws and make sure gambling establishments adhered to strict criteria. Rich casinos and resorts subsequently arose, providing both locals and visitors with entertainment.
The country’s gaming regulations underwent additional revisions in 2004. While online casino gambling was prohibited, sports betting was permitted. The National Gambling Amendment Act was introduced in 2008 with the goal of legalizing online gambling and governing the websites that participate in it. In the nation today, only locally owned land-based casinos are legitimately open for business.
These rules do not prevent South African gamers from accessing various offshore, internationally licensed gambling sites. Since the websites are governed by laws in other nations, users can register and play without risk.
Industry regulation is carried out by Northern Hemisphere licenses.
Ironically, despite government efforts to stop igaming in the Southern Hemisphere, people haven’t really paid attention to the laws. It doesn’t appear like anyone is very upset about the fact that most nations in the Northern Hemisphere control international commercial gaming enterprises.
Are there any more changes in store?
As one of the few nations south of the Equator to have benefited from a regulated market, Argentina is one of these nations. It not only guarantees the safety of the populace but also generates income for the government. Revenues from online gaming can complement budgets at a time of escalating prices. Other nations appear to be only now beginning to recognize the opportunities.
