Online Casino Gambling in South Africa
Gambling has been a part of South African life for quite a long time. The Gambling Act of 1965 made all forms of gambling except betting on horses illegal, and so the prevalent gambling activity was at unlicensed venues. From the 1970s casinos started emerging and now there are a considerable number of land-based casinos, among the most in Africa. The passing of the National Gambling Act in 1996, and its subsequent modification in 2004 attempted to regulate online gambling and prevent exploitation of players. An amendment to that law was passed in 2008 and further movement happened when the government announced a decision to legalize online gambling in 2015.
So technically, online casino gambling has been illegal in South Africa for quite a while, but players are not penalized, and no one in fact has been charged for indulging in online gambling. While land-based gambling has been around for a while, it is remote gambling – initially in the form of online casinos gambling and now mobile casino gambling as well – that has caught the fancy of South African players.
Online Casinos for South African Players: Getting Started
While it is fantastic, as a South African player, to have so many fantastic online casinos to play at, it can also be a problem when it comes to zeroing in on the right casino for you. Going online and searching is an option, but it can be tedious and time-consuming. We make it easier for you by listing out the best casinos for South African players right here on our site.
We have a team of experts who test all the casinos for South African players. Our testing is stringent and rigorous and only the ones that pass our examination and analysis in flying colours – and not many of them do – make it to our list. When you go through our list you will find that all the casinos on it have a few common features:
They accept payments in the South African Rand (ZAR).
There are a number of factors to consider when looking for an online casino to play at. The look and feel is definitely important, and one of the biggest things to consider is security and licensing. Fair play is another critical factor – you do not want to be stuck in a great looking online casino that doesn’t pay out your winnings. Casino software is yet another factor, and then there are other factors like support, payment methods, and promotions to consider.
Picking the Best Casinos for SA Players: Our Testing Process
Our team of experts test all casinos accepting South African players for all the parameters and criteria that you as a player would look for in an online casinos. The criteria we test them for include:
Safety and Security: Safety and security are major concerns for players when it comes to remote gambling. That is why they are the first criteria we check all casinos for. We ensure that every casino that we recommend by placing them on our list offers a completely secure and fair gaming environment.
Software: At the core of every online casino is its software, and it is one of the most important factors we test all South African casinos for. We test them for the providers, the features the software provides the casino with, smoothness of game play, game features, the modes in which it is available – download, or instant play, or both – and many more. We also check for the presence of a mobile version of the casino.
Game range: The main thing that you look for at an online casino is the range of games. The more, the merrier. And this is especially true when you are paying money to play. We test all casinos for the range of games they offer.
Bonuses and promotions: Everybody loves a welcome bonus, and what could be better than to have the bonuses flowing through even after the welcome bonus has run its course? We test the casinos thoroughly for the bonuses they offer. And not just that; we also test them for the terms and conditions they come with.
Ease of payments and withdrawals: We test every casino for the range of payment methods available as that is an important factor that players look for. Support for locally popular payment methods is a big plus. We test them for an even more important, possibly the most critical, factor – the speed and ease of cashing out winnings.
Customer support: This is one of the cornerstones of online gambling, and has the potential to be the difference between a good gambling experience and a fantastic experience. We test the casinos for all the aspects of customer support: the efficiency and friendliness of the support staff, methods of access available – live chat, e-mail, and telephone – and also local language support.
Needless to say, all the casinos that make it to our list score very high on each of these parameters.
One of the biggest contributors to the popularity of mobile casinos has been the huge number of smartphone users across the world. This is true about South African players also; more and more of them have smartphones and are looking to play at mobile casinos.
We test all the casinos accepting South African players for the availability of a mobile casino as well. We then check them for the security, safety, and overall experience at the mobile casino – games available, bonuses, payment methods, level and efficiency of customer support, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will definitely have a lot of questions about online gambling in South Africa. In this section we list out some of the most commonly asked questions on this topic.
Is online gambling legal in South Africa?
Technically, online casino gambling has been illegal in South Africa for a long time now. However, it has never stopped players from playing at casinos run by overseas operators. Recently though, the government announced its decision to regulate and legalize online casino gambling. And that is great news for operators and players alike.
Am I guaranteed safety and fair play at South African online casinos?
All the casinos that we list are completely secure as they use industry-standard SSL encryption technology to protect your personal data and money. They use RNGs that have been tested and certified by independent auditors, which means they guarantee fair gaming too.
What different games I can expect at a South African online casino?
Most of the games at a South African online casino are usually slots. However, there are other games too, including table games like blackjack and roulette, poker variants, video poker, specialty games, and jackpots. Many of them also offer live dealer games.
What is the legal age for me to play at an online casino in South Africa?
The legal age for gambling in South Africa is 18 years.
What payment methods supported at South African online casinos?
South African online casinos support a range of payment methods like credit and debit cards from Visa and MasterCard, e-wallets like NETeller and Skrill, and more. You also find locally popular methods like SiD and EFT at these casinos.
What is the tax I have to pay on my winnings?
Currently, it is the casino operator that is taxed; your winnings do not get taxed.
Do I have to download casino software to play?
Most South African online casinos come with the download option as well as the instant play option. If you are playing at a multi-platform casino, you do not need to download software; you can just open the casino in a web browser, sign-in, and start playing.
Can I play from my mobile device?
Every recognized online casino for South African players comes with a mobile version. This means you can play your favorite casino games directly from your Android or iOS mobile device.