South Africa Online Casinos

Ian Mac
Ian Mac is a dedicated content writer and editor with consistent five-star feedback for high-quality gambling content. He covers casino bonuses and destinations, plus games such as slots, roulette, and blackjack.
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Gambling has always been a heated topic of debate. According to some casino critics, this form of leisure is at the root of gambling addiction, while casino supporters claim that regulating the gambling market boosts state coffers and protects players’ interests. We would like to dedicate this article to the gambling industry in South Africa.

South Africa may not rank among the world’s top gambling countries, but various surveys show that its residents enjoy gambling. Casino gambling is the main source of South Africa’s total gross gambling revenue. According to industry experts, the overall gross gambling revenue in this country is projected to reach ZAR35 billion in 2021.

Unfortunately, the gambling market in South Africa cannot reach its full potential due to a large number of illegal online gambling sites. It is believed that the epidemic of illegal gambling is on the rise, and experts are concerned about the future prosperity of the South African gambling market.

Timeline of South Africa’s Gambling Industry

1History

In fact, the country’s gambling market has taken a long and difficult path to reach its current state. It all started in 1673, when Dutch settlers conquered South Africa and outlawed all forms of gambling. In 1965, the Gambling Act restricted all gambling except horse racing. The ban fueled illegal gambling, and by 1995 it was believed that there were over 2,000 illegal gambling venues. Needless to say, this did not generate any revenue for the government.

2The National Gambling Act of 1996

In 1996, the situation changed slightly when a new government came to power and legalized certain forms of gambling through the National Gambling Act of 1996. Following this legislation, the National Gambling Association was established, and every province in South Africa was given the opportunity to craft its own gambling laws. In 2004, the act was repealed and replaced with new legislation that made all forms of online gambling illegal.

3The Remote Gambling Bill of 2014

Only four years later, a new law, the National Gambling Amendment Act, which aimed to legalize online betting, reached legislators. Unfortunately, it failed, as the Gauteng High Court ruled that all forms of online gambling were illegal and casino operators could not target South African players. Nevertheless, operators continued to offer their services to local players and even began accepting payments in ZAR.

At that point, South African authorities realized how difficult it would be to eliminate illegal gambling. In 2014, another piece of legislation, the Remote Gambling Bill, came to the forefront. Its goal was to regulate the online gambling industry so players could enjoy a safe gaming environment. Unfortunately, no further action was taken.


 

Online Gambling Industry’s Current Legal Status

software variations imageWithin the framework of the present legislation, online gambling in South Africa is illegal. What is more, the government imposes hefty fines of ZAR10,000,000 on operators that do not abide by the law. However, the law targets casino operators and banks, not players. This means that even if you place a bet at a virtual casino, you will not be considered a criminal. In that sense, it is the casino operator that takes on the risk when offering gambling services to South Africans.

Following that line of thought, there are no licensed and regulated gambling sites within South Africa’s borders, but casino enthusiasts will find a decent number of offshore casinos targeting this market. These platforms typically hold licenses issued by other gambling authorities, making them safe and secure. Of course, we recommend that you always check a casino’s license and read other players’ opinions.

On the other hand, land-based casino gambling is not outlawed in South Africa. Each province is allowed to create its own legislation on gambling. There is a fair number of brick-and-mortar gambling establishments. Some of the most popular gambling venues include Frontier Inn & Casino, Flamingo Casino, Sun City Casino Resort, Rio Casino Resort, etc.

It is important to mention that the National Gambling Board oversees gambling regulation throughout the 9 South African provinces. The Gauteng Gambling Board is another watchdog in charge of overseeing the country’s gambling market.

The future of the gambling industry in South Africa does not seem any brighter, as in 2018, the country’s Minister of Trade and Industry proposed a new bill that aims to prohibit dog racing and sports betting. Bingo and limited-payout machines are also expected to face tougher measures. It remains to be seen what additional measures South Africa will take regarding its gambling market.

 

Popular Software Providers

The gaming libraries of online casinos are powered by third-party software developers. When choosing a gambling site, remember that the quality and features of the games depend on the software supplier. Therefore, we always advise our readers to check which providers supply a casino’s games, as this information will also indicate their fairness.

If you are a South African resident, you will most likely come across titles created by several reputable software suppliers, including:

Microgaming
NetEnt
Playtech
Realtime Gaming
Evolution Gaming

 

Popular Payment Solutions

As mentioned above, online gambling is currently prohibited in South Africa. Nevertheless, many people still choose to take the risk and play for real money at offshore sites. In such cases, South Africans should remember that selecting a secure and trustworthy payment method is crucial. Below, we shed light on some of the most popular payment solutions used by players from this vibrant country.

Bank Cards
Е-Wallets
Internet Bank Transfers
SiD Instant EFT
Entropay

 

Promotions for South African Players

Welcome Deposit Bonus

No Deposit Bonuses

VIP Programs

Bonus-Related Key Notions

bonusesAs a newly registered player, you can take advantage of a Welcome Bonus. These promotions usually require you to deposit a certain amount. Gambling sites offer several ways to claim the bonus: some require a bonus code, while others let you activate it manually from your account.

There are several types of Welcome Bonuses. Some online casinos will match your first deposit, while others are more generous, offering bonuses up to your fourth consecutive deposit. In every case, there is an upper ceiling on the amount of bonus funds you can claim.

View more...

 

Mobile Casinos

Mobile CasinosThanks to technological advances, software suppliers have developed their games in a mobile-friendly manner. This means that players can enjoy a rich gaming experience regardless of their current location. Hardly any casino fails to offer at least an instant-play mode. Some operators have gone even further and created dedicated apps for iOS and Android users.

Players from South Africa can also play on their portable devices. If you join a reputable online casino, you can be sure that the majority of its games are designed to run smoothly on any touchscreen device.

Please note that some virtual casinos explicitly state that players from South Africa are not allowed to claim bonuses, even though they are not prohibited from setting up an account at the casino. When choosing a mobile casino platform, we recommend that you select a gaming site with a well-arranged, easy-to-use interface.

Even if you decide to play on your smartphone or iPad, you can be confident that every reputable casino will provide a rewarding, fun-filled gaming experience. Most of the instant-play casino apps can be accessed via any of the most popular browsers such as Opera, Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.

 

Additional Key Notes on Gambling in South Africa

Additional Key NotesIf you are from South Africa and would like to play at an online casino, be aware that individuals under 18 years old are not allowed to engage in any gambling activity. In this way, casino operators aim to protect minors.

In fact, the main reason South Africa has steered clear of legalizing online gambling is to protect its people from gambling addiction. However, it seems that this approach is not working. A national study shows that the number of people facing this problem is constantly growing.

Hence, the National Gambling Board has taken several measures to help people cope with compulsive gambling. There are also several organizations, such as the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF), that can give you a helping hand.

 

Top 10 South African Online Casinos

If you live in South Africa and want to play at an online casino, you must be extremely careful when choosing a site. First, check the operator’s license and reputation. We recommend reading reviews and the opinions of players who have already tried the casino. Next, confirm that the casino accepts players from your jurisdiction; this information is usually found in the Terms & Conditions section.

Then examine the available bonuses and their terms. Finally, review the site’s gaming library, especially if you have specific preferences. To make things easier, we present 10 of the most reputable online casinos that welcome South African players.

Slots Magic
Yako Casino
Casino Joy
PlayOjo Casino
Fun Casino
Vegas Hero Casino
SlotV Casino
BitStarz Casino
LeoVegas Casino
Hyper Casino

Ask a Question. Get an Answer.

Have a question about this topic? Ask an expert at info@supercasinosites.com

Find the answers of questions people asked so far:

Dan Felicia

Is there any hope for a regulated online gambling market in South Africa any time soon?

Asked by: Felicia | Asked on: 2023-05-31
Answered by: Dan | Answered on: 2023-06-01

Actually, there is significant potential for South Africa to regulate the online gambling industry soon. In 2022, new legislation was proposed to oversee remote gambling activities in the country. At the time of writing, the full text has not yet been published, but it is expected to address five key objectives, including the regulation of provincial authority licenses and the procedures for denying licenses. If the bill becomes law, South Africa could emerge as one of the strongest online gambling markets in Africa.

Dan Samuel

Can South Africans use VPNs to access offshore online casinos?

Asked by: Samuel | Asked on: 2023-06-07
Answered by: Dan | Answered on: 2023-06-08

As online casinos remain unregulated in South Africa, players often look elsewhere because no licensed gaming websites operate within the country. Many South African gamblers therefore use VPNs to access offshore casinos and wager real money. Although there are currently no restrictions on VPN usage, some online casinos block accounts detected using such software. For that reason, South African players should confirm that their chosen casino allows access via VPN before signing up.