SPONSORED - The rise in online casino users in South Africa has surprised some outsiders. They see that online gambling is technically illegal in the country and that there are currently no plans for legalisation, and decide that South Africa must not be a country that is very interested in gambling.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. South Africa has a long-established history of gambling, from casual games among friends to world-class resort casinos. The country is also a cultural leader in the region, shaping trends and reflecting wider international advances and interests.
This article will go over which factors are behind South Africa’s rise in online casino users. It will look specifically at the popularity of gambling, the level of enforcement of gambling laws and the special features of South African online casinos.
Popularity of gambling
Internationally, gambling is a popular form of entertainment. People have always loved to gamble. We can trace the first dice and card decks back hundreds of years. It’s not surprising that gambling has survived for centuries, because it’s fun and exciting.
Gambling has been regulated in South Africa since 1673. It wasn’t until the National Gambling Act of 1996 that most forms of gambling were legalised and a standardised licensing system was developed.
Today, there are 36 land-based casinos in South Africa. These range from small city casinos to massive resort casinos such as Sun City. Most of these casinos are based around cities or along the coast. Others, like the resort casinos, are less easily accessible. Sun City, for example, is nearly a three-hour drive from Johannesburg.
This means that for people living outside of major cities, going to a casino can’t just be an afternoon trip. It has to be at least an all-day affair, or more likely a whole weekend.
Online casinos make it possible for anyone with an internet connection to play top casino games. They make it possible to play for just a few minutes at a time while taking a break at work or relaxing in the evening. They open up gambling to people who may have never tried it before because it would have been too big a commitment of time and resources just to get to a casino.
Legal status of online casinos in South Africa
South Africa actually has stricter online gambling laws than many other countries that also ban the activity. In many countries, it is illegal to operate an online casino, but playing at one isn’t considered an offence. In South Africa, both operating an online casino and playing at one are illegal.
The real difference is that South Africa doesn’t enforce these laws as strictly as some other countries do. No players have been prosecuted under these laws since they were put in place. Some online casino operators have had issues with their legal status but that doesn’t directly impact players – unless their account has been deleted when an online casino is in legal trouble.
This relaxed attitude towards enforcing these laws makes South Africa a ‘safer’ place to play. Players can play at reputable offshore online casinos without any serious concerns. This has contributed to the rise in the number of users.
What sets South African online casinos apart
Our last reason why online casinos in South Africa are seeing such a steady rise in players is that they’re simply better than what’s being offered by their neighbours and by generic offshore brands.
When you visit South African casinos like those on this list, you’ll find many familiar international names, as well as some sites especially created for the South African market. This is because the South African online casino market is big enough to merit special attention.
One of the best features of South African online casinos is that they accept deposits and withdrawals in South African rand. Usually, international casinos don’t bother offering more than a few currencies, which is very frustrating for players who generally lose money in the exchange process. Since South Africa is such an important market, online casinos have decided it is worth the effort to cater to South African players’ needs when it comes to currency.
Many online casinos for South African players also accept popular payment methods that aren’t available everywhere. These include EasyEFT, SiD Instant EFT, UPayCard and Ezipay.
Sports betting is hugely popular in South Africa and unlike online casinos, online sportsbooks are legal. In order to cater to their South African customers, many online casinos in the region also offer sports betting. This crossover makes it more convenient for players.
Some of the leading online casinos that accept players based in South Africa include LottoGo Casino, Karamba Casino, Casumo Casino, Lottomart Games Casino and Videoslots Casino.
Conclusion
There has been a rise in the number of people playing at online casinos in South Africa because they’re convenient and accessible, anti-gambling laws aren’t strictly enforced and South African casinos have more to offer players than basic offshore casinos. When you consider all of these factors, it’s easy to see why the growth has been so steady.