British sports betting company Victor Chandler, set to expand into the South African market, revealed this week that it regarded the potential in this country as "huge".
But Victor Chandler, chairperson of the Victor Chandler International group, denied suggestions that with so much crime already in this country the last thing South Africa needed right now was a widespread gambling industry.
Chandler said, "We are not aiming at the bottom end of the market. It is people with disposable income, obviously people who have access to the internet and credit cards, that is the market. We are looking at mainly the middle class, those with money. We see ourselves as a form of entertainment.
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"We have to dip our toes in the water and see what the potential is. But we do believe it is huge there."
'Europe is already opening up' The move by the Victor Chandler organisation into South Africa reflects a widespread opening up of gambling, benefiting from the online facility.
"People are regulating, and this will happen in most countries," said Chandler. "Europe is already opening up.
"Why South Africa? We see a potential market, like Israel; places that are badly served at the moment. All our operations will be online, although we will also be opening a telephone betting office in time."
Chandler refused to speculate on the number of jobs such an organisation might create across South Africa.
"It will grow according to the demand. But key to that is the internet penetration within society as a whole.
'He lost his best horse in South Africa' Trust
"The UK market shows what is possible as that factor grows. A few years ago, nine percent had access to the internet, but now that figure is 60 percent. That has changed our business.
"The past 18 months have seen a huge change in internet selling. What people have had to adjust to (on the internet) is trusting people with their credit card details.
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