Despite making up half of the planet, the southern hemisphere is frequently disregarded. Since the majority of the earth’s land mass is located in the top half, it is frequently assumed that this is the case. 87 percent of the world’s population lives north of the equator, after all. Four of the five major oceans are also present. Additionally, five of the seven continents are located entirely or mostly in the northernmost regions of the globe. The USA, China, and the EU are the three largest global powers, and they are located in the north.
Huge amounts of sea can be seen in the southern hemisphere while looking at a globe. Nevertheless, there is also a lot of land. Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are all represented here, as is almost all of South America. Strings of tiny islands are woven throughout the huge Pacific Ocean, which tints the earth’s surface blue.
Giving the history of internet gaming for half the planet is a rather daunting endeavor. Although Brazil also has land above the equator, South America alone has seven separate nations in the Southern Hemisphere, and Africa has fourteen. 32 nations are represented here in total, so the best we can hope for is a quick tour.
Latin America
The lack of widespread internet connection in Latin America has hampered iGaming development. However, more individuals now have access to the internet via 4G and 5G networks because to the proliferation of smartphones. As a result, 422 million players were signed up to participate in South America by the end of 2021.
Brazil, which is the most populous nation in the subcontinent, forbids gambling. The only legal form of gambling in the nation is the state lottery, which was instituted as a prohibition on the activity in 1941. Argentina, however, has a market that is governed. Over $2 billion is produced by the sector each year. The federal tax rates on internet gambling climbed from two to five percent during the 2020 financial crisis, making it a major source of revenue for the government.
In New Zealand
New Zealanders enjoy playing casino games. The pokies, horse racing, and lotteries have always been popular with New Zealanders. The first casino opened its doors in Christchurch in 1994, while the first pokies appeared in hotel lobbies and pubs in the late 1980s. Online casinos do not exist in my area, although there are several offshore options. Time2Play, an impartial, expert review website, has a list of the top ones. Players in the nation have access to a huge variety of online games, including table and live dealer games as well as pokies. Mobile casinos have recently expanded their menu of options.
Australia
Australia’s relationship with online gaming is a little tricky. Operating internet casinos from Australia is forbidden by the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Additionally, it declares that it is against the law for offshore casinos to accept Australian players. However, the laws are not strictly adhered to and are weak. Australians can so play at offshore internet casinos without facing any repercussions. Additionally, the IGA makes no mention of it being forbidden for Australians to play at or access foreign websites. As a result, Australians like playing at online casinos and there are no problems making deposits or withdrawals.
Indonesia
Gambling is forbidden in Indonesia, and repeat offenders risk a six-year prison sentence. Additionally, the government has cancelled over 500,000 gaming accounts in the previous four years and continues to restrict online gambling websites. As a result, players use VPNs to circumvent the law.
S. Africa
In 1965, South Africa banned all gambling, with the exception of horse racing. Though it seldom does, this did make gambling more difficult to access. Numerous illicit casinos started to appear all throughout the country as a result.
The National gaming Act was modified in 1996, legalizing and regulating gaming. National lotteries and casino gaming were included in this. The National Gambling Board was also established to enforce laws and guarantee that gambling establishments adhered to certain criteria. As a result, lavish casinos and resorts appeared and provided attractions for both locals and visitors.
Additional amendments to the nation’s gaming regulations occurred in 2004. It was legal to gamble on sports, but it was forbidden to play casino games online. The National Gambling Amendment Act, introduced in 2008, seeks to legalize online gambling and govern the websites that do business there. Only locally owned land-based casinos are now allowed to run lawfully in the nation.
Despite these regulations, South African gamers can play at many offshore, internationally licensed gaming sites. Players can register and play safely on the websites because they are governed in other nations.
Licenses from the Northern Hemisphere govern this sector.
Ironically, despite official efforts to stop it, individuals have not paid much attention to the rules when it comes to online gaming in the Southern Hemisphere. Nobody appears very concerned about changing the fact that most nations in the Northern Hemisphere control international commercial gambling enterprises.
Will there be any other changes?
One of the few nations south of the Equator that has benefited from a regulated market is Argentina. In addition to guaranteeing the safety of the populace, it generates income for the government. Revenues from iGaming can help budgets in a time of rising expenditures. It appears that other nations are only now becoming aware of the possibilities.
