A plan to ask the Reserve Bank to block the use of credit cards in internet gambling has been put on hold.

This came as Swaziland-based Casino Enterprises, which runs the Piggs Peak online casino, launched an appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, to argue why internet banking should not be banned in South Africa.

Last August, the Pretoria High Court dismissed an application by the company when it argued it was not subject to South Africa's online gambling ban as it operated outside the country. Experts put illegal online gambling at more than R500-million.

Ndanduleni Makhari, the board's acting chief executive, said its plan to ban online gambling in the country included asking media houses and advertising agencies to pull ad material on online gambling. This was on hold until the case is heard on August 23.

Makhari said the board was against online gambling as gambling had a socio-economic effect on families.

Banning online gambling was one of its many initiatives aimed at regulating the gambling industry.