Online Gaming Options for South African Players

 

South Africa has always been eager to catch up with the latest developments in the world and has been successfully doing so in more than one department. When it comes to sports and casino games, South Africa has however oscillated between enforcing tight regulations on them and letting it all loose. As per usual, this kind of swinging between two different approaches has brought with it ardent supporters for each side.

 

Before we can draw a conclusion on what the casino landscape currently is in South Africa and what it could be, we’ll first need to look at what its gambling history is.

 

What You Need to Know About South Africa’s Gambling History

Ever since 1994, when the democratic party came to power, South Africa saw the need to legalize gambling – at least some forms of it. It’s interesting to note that, for centuries, gambling of any kind – except horse racing, which was considered a sport – had been strictly prohibited.

 

It was through the National Gambling Act of 1996 that some standard procedures were introduced especially to regulate betting activities.

 

It was then that the National Gambling Board was created to bring more structure to the South African game industry, by regulating and supervising gambling.

 

A few years passed when another act, the National Gambling Act of 2004, replaced the previous one and started enforcing some changes, such as implementing restrictions on interactive gambling activities connected to bingo, casino and poker.

 

In 2008, an amendment to this act was supposed to completely legalize betting, but this hasn’t yet been enforced, since it was met with strong resistance all across the board.

What Is the Current Development of the South African Gambling Industry?

As you can see, these are the legal actions that shaped the South African gambling landscape into what it is today. However, for the past decade, things have come to a halt for the betting industry in South Africa and there is no indication that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) is taking any relevant steps to further propel the industry.

 

Experts show that a lack of action may prove to be damaging to the South-African gambling industry, potentially bringing forth huge losses in terms of taxes and revenues.

 

As table games like baccarat, poker, blackjack and roulette gain more popularity across the globe as part of a rising trend, it’s expected that South-African players are also keen to jump aboard this train and invest their money, if given ample opportunity to do so. There’s a high chance that the above-mentioned games will also become some of the most popular to be played in the nation, as well.

How About South African Online Casinos?

While brick-and-mortar casinos are plentiful in South Africa, and especially in Johannesburg, the number of online casinos is also increasing. Needless to say, the game offer is also rich and rewarding, regardless of what your preferences as a player may be.

 

We recommend consulting a comprehensive list of casinos and games available, so that you can make an informed choice when going for an online casino and opting to make a deposit there. While all online casinos may offer attractive bonuses and features, it’s up to you to see which one best suits your needs. Make sure to weigh in factors such as:

 

• Offered bonuses – An attractive bonus may go a long way for you as a player, so make sure to pick the right one from the many casino bonuses available now.

 

• Security and licensing – You need to make sure your chosen casino is safe, so you can get your payments on time, while also having your customer needs catered to by a knowledgeable and professional team.

 

• Deposits – Make sure you pay attention from the get-go to the kind of deposits a casino will require you to make – they can make or break the game.

 

• Game offer – When you go visit a casino site, be sure to thoroughly browse through their game selection. They need to have a wide variety of high-quality games that have been positively reviewed by other players as well.

 

Even though currently at a standstill, the South-African gambling industry has opened many doors for both its players and the game developers that compete to offer the best games on the market. Since the world is currently fully embracing the world of online casinos and enjoying its rewards, it’s fair to say South Africa won’t lag behind for too long either.