Gambling was effectively illegal in South Africa for centuries since the late 1600s. That does not imply gaming has not been a long-standing component of the nation's culture. By the time gambling was legalized for regulation in the 1990s, there were thousands of illegal casinos running throughout the nation, so many that it was difficult to police. South Africans are able to access a broad choice of legal gambling today as they do elsewhere in the world.
Our comprehensive guide provides everything that a South African gambler needs to know about gambling in their nation, such as:
- The legality of online casinos so that you never end up being one of those individuals who are on the wrong side of the law
- The truth concerning government regulation
- The meaning of security at online casinos
- What international casino websites have to offer
- Legal Gambling in South Africa
- South Africa online casinos list
In as much as gambling has ever remained a popular pursuit amongst South Africans, for centuries it had to be carried out covertly because by government ordinance it was illicit. During the apartheid era and prior, every form of gambling except betting on horse races was prohibited. Casinos began to spring up in the Bantustans (lands set aside for the indigenous people) and were one of the highest sources of revenue for the inhabitants. When apartheid was abolished and the Democratic Party took over, gambling was legalized, and a national lottery and casino licensing system were introduced.
There are SA land-based casinos in all of the big metro areas of South Africa today, and over 40 in total. Even though online gambling is currently limited to sports betting, the National Gambling Board (NGB) indicated in their annual report that further legalization and regulation of online gambling is a very real prospect in the near future. Good news for people who like to play popular casino games like keno, slots, video poker, poker, blackjack, baccarat and roulette.
What were the first gambling laws enacted?
The first ban on gambling was by the Dutch in Cape Colony. South African gambling remained strictly limited since then and the South Africa Gambling Act legally prohibited wagering on anything other than horse racing.
What law regulates South Africa's gambling today?
The National Gambling Act of established criteria for the lawful enjoyment of slot machines, casino games, lotteries, and other types of gaming. Operators of these types of gaming need to register and be licensed by their province's gambling board first. Following a high court ruling, online gambling (even on websites based outside the republic) was prohibited to participate in or offer. Interestingly enough, online sports betting is permissible. Online bookmakers, as with casinos, are meant to be licensed by their province's gambling and racing board. There have been recent attempts in Parliament to legalize online gaming for all the usual casino games that international players get to indulge in.
Who regulates the gaming industry in South Africa?
South African gaming is regulated and managed by the National Gambling Board. Established, NGB regulation is in line with the world's leading international standards of compliance for gaming and casinos. As part of the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) and together with nine other African nations, South Africa combats illegal and unlicensed gaming activities in the southern region of Africa.
South African Player Information
While lottos, slot machines, casinos, and sports betting are all legalized, regulated, and available for South Africans to indulge in at their leisure, online gambling is a far murkier area. Online betting (sports betting and horse racing) is legal provided it is conducted through a South African government-licensed bookmaker. Online gambling that is based in South Africa (casino games and all other types of online wagering) is illegal.
These laws are enforced irregularly, however, and many report that government crackdown is more operator-focused than player-focused. There is always some risk associated with gambling on the Internet (and with doing anything with money), and players should make smart consumer decisions about which online casino to trust if they do so. Fortunately, there have been recent attempts in Parliament to legalize online gambling.
Do I have to pay taxes on my gaming winnings?
Yes and no. South African sports bettors are not required to pay any form of income tax on winnings. Winnings from bets placed on horse racing are, however, subjected to 6% Value-Added Tax (VAT). And since again, online gambling is currently a punishable offense in South Africa, it would probably not be a good idea to report winnings gained from other forms of online games.
Do online casinos offer play in ZAR?
The majority of sites seeking to attract South African players will accept ZAR. Even if an online casino doesn't natively accept rand, it can always be converted into an accepted currency (with fees being charged). Casino gaming that accepts the South African rand enables you to make deposits, withdrawals, and view your transaction history in your local currency. All South African online bookmakers will also accept their home currency.
Safe Online Casinos for South Africans
Online gaming is technically illegal in South Africa at present for fear of losing land-based casino profits. Although many sites take the risk of trying to welcome South African players, be advised that anyone caught offering or partaking in illicit online gaming stands to receive a fine of R10m, 10 years imprisonment, or both. However, The Remote Gambling Bill is set to go before Parliament. Should it pass, online gambling would be legal for South Africans.
Before entrusting money to any online casino (regardless of its legality within its home nation), players must carry out thorough research on the site. A site's level of security can be determined by looking for seals of approval by organizations such as eCOGRA and Verisign. This shows the casino is routinely audited for security and fair play. However, for as long as online gambling ban remains in effect in South Africa, players need to exercise caution when playing at any online casino with real money. Looking for reviews on sites like OnlineCasinoReports.com can also give a good indication of a casino's trustworthiness.
How can South Africans ensure that their funds are safe?
Players who are worried about the security of their funds are advised to look for casinos that have the seal of approval of VeriSign or a similar service. Usually found on the bottom of the home page of a casino, this logo is an indication that the site uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. What this does is create an encrypted channel between casino and player where a player can safely make a deposit or withdrawal that no one else can intercept.
Is playing fair at the online casinos?
The best SA online casinos make use of software providers with flawless reputations, such as Playtech or RTG. Any casino that's licensed by a body such as eCOGRA is also subject to regular fair play audits.
Casinos with these sorts of quality measures in place are assured to make use of a fair and up-to-date random number generators for their games.
Does a player have any recourse if they suspect there is unfair activity?
Yes. For online casinos based in South Africa, players can, in case of suspected unfair gameplay or financial practice, report to the NGB. The problems should also be reported to any other certifying authority such as VeriSign or eCOGRA.
Responsible Gaming for South Africans
The National Responsible Gaming Programme (NRGP) runs counseling, research, education, and industry training programs related to problem gambling in South Africa. The programme calls itself "the only one of its kind in the world which is jointly managed by a public/private sector partnership which includes government regulators and the industry."
