Gambling has always been a major topic of heated debates. According to some casino naysayers, this type of leisure activity is at the bottom of gambling addictions, while casino supporters claim that regulating the gambling market is a good move as it boosts the coffers and protects the players’ interests. We would like to dedicate this article to the gambling industry in South Africa.
South Africa certainly cannot be listed among the top gambling countries in the world, but we must say that various surveys prove that its residents like to gamble. 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 deploy its full potential due to a large number of illegal online gambling sites. It is believed that the epidemy called illegal gambling keeps on rising and experts have certain concerns regarding the prosperity of the gambling market in South Africa.
Online Gambling Industry’s Current Legal Status
Within 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 to operators that do not abide by the law. However, the law does not target the players but rather the casino operators and the banks. This means that even if you want to place a bet via some virtual casino, you will not be considered a criminal. In that sense, it is the casino operator that takes the risk when offering gambling services to South Africans.
Following that stream of thoughts, there are no licensed and regulated gambling sites within South Africa’s borders, but casino enthusiasts will come across a good-enough number of offshore casinos targeting this market. Needless to say, these hold licenses issued by other gambling authorities, making them safe and secure. Of course, we would like to recommend you to always check a certain casino’s license and to 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 good-enough 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 is responsible for the oversight of the gambling industry’s regulation throughout the 9 South African provinces. The Gauteng Gambling Board is the other watchdog that is in charge of controlling the gambling market in the country.
The future of the gambling industry in South Africa does not seem to be any brighter as in 2018, the country’s Minister of Trade and Industry proposed a new bill that aims at prohibiting dog racing and sports bets. Bingo and limited payout machines are also to face tougher measures. It is yet to see what further measures South Africa will take regarding its gambling market.
Mobile Casinos
Thanks to technological advancement, software suppliers developed their games in a mobile-friendly manner. This means that players can revel in a fruitful gaming experience regardless of their current location. There is barely any casino that does not offer at least an instant-play mode. Some operators went even further and created a dedicated app for iOS and Android users.
Players from South Africa are also provided with the opportunity to play via their portable devices. In case you join a reputable online casino, you can be sure that the majority of the games are designed to run smoothly on any touchscreen devices.
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 would recommend you to choose a gaming site that offers a well-arranged and easy-to-use user interface.
Even if you decide to play via your smartphone or iPad, you should have no doubts that every reputable casino will provide you with a rewarding and 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
If you are from South Africa and you would like to play at an online casino, you should be familiar with the fact that individuals under 18 years old are not allowed to join any gambling activities. In that way, casino operators are trying to protect minors.
In fact, the main reason for South Africa to steer clear from legalizing online gambling is to protect its people from gambling addictions. However, it seems that this approach is not working. A national study shows that the number of people who are found to face this problem is constantly growing.
Hence, the National Gambling Board took certain 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.