Online casino operator Piggs Peak has discontinued its services to South African residents following a High Court judgment on the jurisdiction of online gambling transactions in the country, Fin24 reported.

"As you are aware, we lost our application in the Pretoria High Court regarding the legality of South Africans playing on our Swaziland licensed internet casino, which has serious implications for South African players. We are in the process of applying for leave to appeal the judgment and felt that we could continue operating in the interim," the group said in a note on the company's website.

The North Gauteng High Court on 20 August 2010 handed down judgment that prevents internet operators to offer online gambling and South Africans to partake in online gambling.

Those entities that advertise or facilitate the advertisement of online gambling ? including radio and television stations, print media and outdoor advertising agencies ? will also face the law.

Persons who are prosecuted and found guilty of breach or contravention of the gambling legislation could receive a fine of R10-million or 10 years in jail, or both.

Clients will still be able to withdraw their existing balances from Piggs Peak by emailing the support centre, Piggs Peak added.