Gambling GuideOn This Page
Online Casinos for players from SA
Introduction
When it comes to online gambling in South Africa, things can be a bit tricky. Players oftentimes have seen the laws changing, as the National Gambling Act of 2004 put some very tight restrictions on both providing and playing interactive gambling services. The government once again clamped down in 2010, making even offshore based betting services illegal in the country. The government has gone so far as to make the marketing and banking services related to online gambling illegal. Needless to say, online betting in South Africa carries a significant risk for punters.
With that being said, there are legal options to bet online in South Africa. The government has licensed some sports and racing groups to offer online betting services to punters, which covers VAT taxes imposed by the government. These options are limited, but there are some choices for players. Unfortunately, these don't apply to online casinos.
There are offshore online casinos that do offer services to players in South Africa, including several large operators. There is a risk playing these, but prosecutions and convictions for online gambling are extremely low, given the difficulty of tracing information from offshore servers. If you want to take the risk and play at those sites, you can find them below.
Best Online Casinos for South Africa
Tips for South Africa Online Gambling
Needless to say, the situation in South Africa means that punters should really do their research in finding a good online casino. We've put together some important tips to find good sites and keep yourself safe.
- Read reviews from reputable sites. If you're looking for casino reviews, it’s important to pick reputable sites. There are a lot of sites out there that post glowing reviews of lackluster casinos in order to make a quick buck. This is why it’s important to head to reputable sites in order to get trustworthy reviews. We recommend the following sites:
- Read the terms and conditions. The legal situation with South Africa online casinos means that there are some casinos out there that try to take advantage of players. Because of that, it’s very important that you read the terms and conditions at any casino you're considering playing at. It’s not fun, but it’s something you need to do. If you find something that seems to be predatory or unfair, you're best bet is to play elsewhere.
- Check out our blacklist and stay away from the casinos on the list. As we mentioned above, there’s a lot of sites out there that would look to victimize you. Some do it with predatory terms and conditions, and others do it by being outright scams that will steal your money. We call these casinos rogue, and we put them on our blacklist. If you're thinking about playing at a casino and see it on the list, you need to not play there.
Live Dealer Options for South Africa Players
If you're looking for an online experience that’s very close to visiting a land casino, then you can do no better than live dealer casino games. These games are broadcast from studios and are transmitted to your screen. You then make decisions and the dealer plays it out on their end, with your account being credited or debited based on the outcome. These games are growing in popularity, and the following casinos are the best when it comes to offering live dealer games to punters.
Live Dealer Casinos For Players From South Africa (510)
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Casino Trust and Security
If you’re playing at an online casino, it’s vital that you trust the site you’re playing with. Because of this, you want to look and check to make sure that fairness is addressed. This is done through audits and published payout percentages. Additionally, you need to make sure the casino uses 128-bit SSL encryption technology, which protects your user data as it’s moved between your computer and the casino’s servers. All reputable sites these days use this technology, and we only recommend you play at sites that utilize it.
Banking Options for South African Players
Seeing as how there are many restrictions in place for banking institutions in regards to South Africa betting, you're going to see fewer options available. Some eWallets and cryptocurrencies are probably the best options for punters in the country, as they are located offshore and feature the fastest way to move money.
Bitcoin Casinos for South African Players
As mentioned above, Bitcoin is a great option for South African punters looking to gamble online. The cryptocurrency allows for a semi-private way of moving funds, and is popular for being almost instant for withdrawals and deposits. We recommend the following Bitcoin casinos to players.
South Africa Online Gambling FAQ
Is online gambling legal?
Online betting, also known by law as interactive gaming is currently illegal within the borders of South Africa, and this is clearly stated in section 11 of TheNational Gambling act of 2004. The truth though is that the laws on online gambling in South Africa have evolved numerous times over the past few decades and this does make the current standings on the topic slightly murky.
The fact of the matter is that there are offshore online casinos offering their services to South African players and have been for many years now with prosecutions being very rare. We are not advising you to break the laws of your country, playing is at your own risk, and you'll have to determine if it’s worth it to do so.
Do I have to download software?
Nope! Most online casinos these days don’t require you to download software these days, as you can play directly through your web browser. Some download options still exist, but these are mainly for players with very slow internet connections.
Why can't I play certain games?
Some games are only available to punters in regulated countries. Oftentimes, developers like IGT, Microgaming and others will not offer their games in restricted areas, and unfortunately, South Africa is tightly restricted.
What should I do if I have a dispute with a casino?
If an issue arises between you and an online casino, your best bet is to take it up with the casino’s management. If that doesn't get you anywhere, your next best option is to reach out to a reputable site that assists with player disputes.
Written by: Michael Shackleford
