South African residents are still fairly restricted by the government when it comes to most forms of online gambling, but land based gambling activities such as horse racing and casinos are not restricted in any way and South Africans can legally gamble at numerous venues such as these. Lotteries and one or two other forms of land-based gambling activities are also permitted. On this page you can learn about the basic legality of online gambling including a brief history and also about what we think the future of online gambling in South Africa might hold.
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As there are not a lot of online gambling options, sports betting is a preferred interactive entertainment by South African players. Online betting is legal as long as the bookmaker is legit and has the necessary licenses. Keep in mind that the gambling legislation has an eye on you as well. South Africa has one of the strictest online gambling laws in the world. Ever since the country enacted its first Gambling Act in 1965, it has undergone several modifications such as the September 2011 law which verified that online gambling isn’t permitted within the country.
There’s also a small FAQ section answering some of the main questions and you can also learn about some of today’s best fully licensed online casinos that currently accept real cash wagers from South African players.
Table of Contents
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| History | In this section you can learn about the brief history of gambling in South Africa, with particular attention paid towards the history of ‘online’ gambling and you can also discover when the main types of legislation were passed, which brings you right up to the current online gambling laws in South Africa. |
| Legality | In this section you can find out more about the legality of online casino gambling as it stands in South Africa today and where it leaves you as a player. Don’t forget that South African players are not breaking any laws when playing in the real money mode at any of our featured SA online casinos. |
| FAQ | In this useful FAQ section you can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that directly pertain to the current online gambling laws in South Africa. It’s always helpful to have a piece of mind before you sign up to a new online casino for the very first time which is why you should take a few minutes to check out all of these sections. |
| Future | Here we will be taking a look at where we think the future of online casino gambling in South Africa is possibly heading. This is based purely on what we know so far and none of what we predict is therefore set in stone or will definitely happen. |
| Best Licensed Casinos | In this section you can learn about today’s best fully licensed South African online casinos which you can enjoy playing at right now. All of these trustworthy online casinos are controlled by foreign operators and they are licensed by authorities that are based in one of several major licensing jurisdictions around the world. |
South African Online Gambling History
The first online casinos started popping up in the mid-1990s and it was around this time when the new National Gambling Act of 1996 was passed after a new Democratic government took office and legalised many forms of gambling. However, it was less than a decade later when in 2004 a more restrictive stance was taken by the standing government and the legislation that passed in 1996 was amended, forming the new National Gambling Act.
Is Online Gambling Legal In South Africa 2017 News
Then in 2010 the government made it so online gambling sites that that operate from outside of South African borders and aim their business towards South African players were banned, although very little action was ever actually take against any these operators because they fall outside of South African jurisdiction.
Still to this day many of these same foreign controlled online casinos and other similar sites are the only places that South Africa players have access to. It also looks as though nothing will change any time soon despite there being many calls for change and for a fully regulated online gambling market to be made available to South Africans. There are still no home-grown gambling sites available or any proper kind of legislation in place.
Legality of South African Gambling
In South Africa today the two main pieces of legislation that are currently in place and are the basis of the online gambling environment in the country are still the National Gambling Act of 2004 and also the National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008. These two pieces of legislation were passed to become more relevant to all forms of gambling today, but there’s still no proper framework in place. For example while foreign operators are still not allowed to aim their business towards South African players, there’s nothing to actually stop them from doing so and players cannot be prosecuted when gambling in the real money at these websites.
The waters are still a bit murky when it comes to the current legality of online casino gambling laws in South Africa and due to this confusion many people view the current laws as still being open to interpretation. For example the laws states that a person must not engage in or make available an interactive game except as authorised in terms of this Act or any other national law, but it also states that online betting is legal with a licensed South African bookmaker.
South African Online Gambling Legal FAQ
Is it legal to gamble online in South Africa?
Technically yes because there are no laws that stop you from doing so and you can’t be prosecuted for playing in the real money mode at any of our featured online casinos.
Where are today’s South African online casinos licensed?
Today’s best South African online casinos are licensed either in the UK by the Gambling Commission or by another trusted authority in one of several other major licensing jurisdictions around the world.
Are foreign controlled SA online casinos safe?
Yes. All of our casinos have been strictly vetted and they are controlled by reputable operators with proven track records.
Future of Online Gambling in SA
While it doesn’t looking like the online gambling laws in South Africa are going to change any time soon, this doesn’t mean to say that changes to the law will not be made. If the government can figure out a way to emulate other major markets around the world and how those authorities operate such as the framework that’s in place in the UK, then and only then will we see any real changes. In the current climate it’s still unclear whether the future is bright for online casino gambling in South Africa. It would be great for the country if the government could come up with a much better-regulated online gambling environment, but only time will tell if things will improve.
Best Fully Licensed SA Online Casinos
The best fully licensed online casinos in South Africa are NOT licensed within the country’s own borders. They tend to be licensed either in the UK (by the UK Gambling Commission), in Kahnawake (by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission), in Gibraltar (by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority), in Malta (by the Malta Gaming Authority) or in one of several other major licensing jurisdictions and some of the very best online casinos that we can recommend playing at include sites such as Casino .com, Punt Casino, Yebo Casino, Thunderbolt Casino and Springbok Casino.
These are the most trusted SA online casinos out there today. They offer complete player protection and the licensing authorities that have issued these casinos with gambling licenses can provide you with the necessary legal backing that you are entitled to as a player should you ever encounter a serious issue when playing at any of these recommend sites – something which is never likely to happen.
Where to play?
| Brand Name | Highlights | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Casino.com | As our recommended Top Pick this gambling brand Casino .com seems to prevail time and time again both among our experts and the industry alike as a top online casino brand. This not only applies to players from South Africa but across the globe. | |
| Yebo Casino | Another one of our personal favourites! Yebo Casino is a long time operator in the South Afircan market. This Realtime Gaming powered online casino features an exciting array of slots, blackjack, video poker and other game variations that will surely satisfy the most discerning player. | |
| Punt Casino | One of the longest operating online gambling brands Punt Casino focuses exclusively on servicing the South African market. Players from SA will find the most convenient banking options dedicated to South Africans along with great games and friendly support. |
Here is all the info on the issue is online gambling legal in South Africa?
Introduction
Casino online gaming is a great way to get some entertainment going on, coupled with fantastic gaming, and a marvellous way to unwind from the comfort of one’s own home.
When it comes to casino online game players that reside in South Africa, there is the ever-constant question of legitimacy and legal issues that tend to follow any casino online gambling site and the player that takes part in the services and products on offer to South African players.
Perhaps the best bet would be to take a closer look at the rules of engagement, the legal ramifications and repercussions of any avid casino online game title player found playing online casino games within the South African jurisdictions, as well as the history of South Africa and gambling on the whole, so as to ascertain what the attitude towards these casino online game players and casino online gambling sites tend to be, when in South Africa.
It is also something to be considered as to when one should expect South African individuals, that happen to be ardent casino online players, to bend a rule (read as law) here and there, in lieu of seeking out their preferred mode of entertainment. Is there even an incident where this type of blatant disregarding of legal ordinances is rather seen as a misdemeanour, in other words, is there a pseudo loophole for these avid casino online players residing in South Africa to aim towards? Keep reading to see what the inside scoop with regards to online gambling legal issues in South Africa happens to be.
Is it legal to gamble online in South Africa?
As with all instances in this life, one needs to take a page out of the history books, in order to be able to see where a situation has once been, so as to understand where it stands presently, and in today’s society.
With regards to the casino online gambling industry in South Africa, it is important to hearken back to the days of yesteryear and see the journey that Gambling in South Africa has taken over the years.
From as far back as 1965, South Africa has had a rather vocal and dominant stance against gambling within the country. The 1965 Gambling Act was introduced, clearly making the distinction within South Africa, stating that all forms of gambling were irrevocably determined as illegal, and subsequently banned as a result.
This public denunciation of the activity of gambling was, however, not taken lightly by the general South African populus, in that many a South African citizen would knowingly break this predetermined gambling act and decree, and opt to play their hand at any given gambling activity, this way breaking the rules (and law), and opt to rather take part in illegal gambling via the many thousands of illegal casino that were situated throughout the country of South Africa.
In fact, between the 1970’s and the 1990’s, South African casino game players had the opportunity to take up their preferred mode of entertainment via gambling activity, in one of the over 2000 illegal casinos that just so happened to be spread out throughout South Africa.
It was in 1994, with the introduction and induction of the new government that a revised gambling act was introduced to South Africa, resulting in the implementation of the National Gambling Act of 1996. This new gambling act legalised land-based casinos and initiated a reform where all forms of gambling within South Africa was now on the path to being regulated by the National Gaming Board.
It was in 2004 that the National Gambling Act was revised, this time making special mention of the fact that online casino gambling was indeed illegal. Further to this was the National Gambling Act Amendment of 2008, where the further emphasis was placed on the illegal nature of casino online operators located within the jurisdiction of South Africa.
Tell me more
What the above quintessentially boils down to is the following:
Playing at an online casino gambling site that operates from within South Africa is illegal. The products and services of any given casino online gambling site, that happens to be residing within the South African borders is in fact deemed illegal and banned.
However, there seems to be a loophole in terms of the rights and legal issues involving the individual South African casino online player. There has been zero incidents or records pertaining to the prosecution of any given casino online player from South Africa, and truth be told, there are very many casino online game players that are South Africans, that remain active and ardent casino online game players, even today.
The general consensus is as such: any offshore casino online gambling site may decide to offer South African players the right to enjoy their casino online slot games and promotional bonus offers, and ultimately join up to be part of the said casino online gambling sites’ player community – it is solely the prerogative of the offshore casino online gambling site in question as to whether they will open their doors to the South African player or not.
The reason why South Africa has clamped down on casino online gambling is in large due to the banking systems within South Africa, and their unwillingness to associate with gambling entities as a whole. The risks are felt to be too great, therefore offshore casino online sites are eligible for gameplay, as these sites are more than happy to take up potential risks that would be associated with bank systems affiliated with gambling enterprises.
Similarly, should a casino online gambling site decide to take up residency in SOuth Africa, although it is an illegal enterprise to undertake, the South African player that signs up to this particular type of casino online brand will not feel the heavy hand of the law come down on them, instead, ti si the casino online gambling site itself which will take the full brunt of the law and the consequences, therefore, plainly put, it is the casino online gambling site that will take all the risks of operating in South Africa.
Is Online Gambling Legal In South Africa 2017 2018
Conclusion
In one word: it is illegal to have and operate an online casino gambling site within the jurisdiction of South Africa, however, should there be an offshore casino online gambling site that is willing to allow South African casino online game players to sign up and join their particular player community, this is something that is not illegal, and in fact a loophole that many casino online gaming sites have decided to take up, as well as many casino online game players that reside in South Africa.
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As is most common with countries that frown upon and even ban casino online gambling, just like South Africa, the entire premise rests on the fact that these countries do not want to associate with nefarious gambling entities. This type of thinking is quite archaic, and especially with the invention of eWallets, cryptocurrencies, and the likes, it will not surprise us when South Africa, and countries just like it, will soon take another look at their stance when it comes to casino online gambling, and move to making it a legal and regulated industry instead.