Online Gambling in South Africa has been a huge part of the global gambling industry for a long time despite the varying changes in the laws within the country. Punters from SA have continually placed bets and enjoyed the games brought by offshore online gambling providers, as the gambling laws in South Africa were deemed unenforceable and almost entirely ignored. Since 2011, however, the government has made it clear they were going to enforce those laws and on multiple occasions seized online gambling winnings from citizens and taken other legal actions when confronted with online gamblers. With this in mind, there are still forms of gambling online that are legal within the country. Continue reading below to find out the specifics on South African legal online sportsbooks and pari-mutuel gambling.

Legal Online Gambling Sites For South African Players

Online Casino Gambling Legal South Africa Contact Details

South Africa’s Stringent Online Gambling Laws Since 2010, the act of online casino gambling has been strictly prohibited in South Africa. Prior to this time, it did seem like the country was gearing towards making it a legal operation, with discussions for regulation and legalisation taking place. While South Africa has authorized online sports betting, it has yet to authorize legal online casinos, largely due to opposition by the country’s land-based casino sector (ahem), which has. According to the National Gambling Board of South Africa, the term “online gambling” refers to online casino, poker, and bingo games and has been deemed illegal. Section 11 of the National Gambling Act 2004 reads, “Person must not engage in or make available an interactive game except as authorized in terms of this Act or any other.

Here we have listed some of the most reputable online sportsbooks and gambling sites in the industry. We have also included reputable online casino and poker sites in this guide that operate legally in the industry and offer their services to residents of South Africa. As previously mentioned we know there is a large portion of South Africans that use these sites despite the laws and we want to provide safe and reliable sources that have the proper regulation and banking practices for those people who choose to do so. Our team of industry specialists has been vetting websites like these for decades and has determined that these are the most secure and trustworthy sites on the market.

Top Rated Gambling Sites That Accept South African Players

Is Online Gambling Illegal In South Africa?

According to the Gambling Control Board of South Africa, online gambling is illegal. Also according to the GCB, online betting is legal. So, what’s the difference? In SA, the term “online gambling” refers to the casino and poker games that are played from offshore providers. This is what the control board and the SA government are attempting to stop. “Online betting”, on the other hand, refers to the providers who have secured the proper licenses from the South African government in their appropriate jurisdictions for regulated, legal sports betting and the pari-mutuel gambling that takes place at horse and dog tracks. While online casinos, bingo, and poker remain technically illegal in South Africa, citizens can still enjoy legal online sports betting and pari-mutuel gambling without fear of government intervention.

Online gambling sites that have casino games, poker, or bingo games along with internet service providers, banks that process payments, and even mass media modalities that advertise illegal gambling services as defined by SA law, are punishable by law. Surprisingly this has not discouraged many residents from engaging in offshore online gambling, which has driven several of the premium, licensed online casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks to continue to offer their services to South African gamblers. Despite the ‘play at your own risk’ environment that has emerged, SA players are still largely engaging in online casino and poker gambling.

Is Online Sports Betting in South Africa Legal?

Yes, it absolutely is. The National Gambling Act deems offering and participating in interactive gambling games as illegal. However, its important to note that the term “interactive gambling games” communicates specifically to online poker, casino games, and bingo only. South Africa has a long history of Sports betting and bookmaking as a business and because of this, those two gambling enterprises over the Internet remain legal in South Africa if the operator has the proper provincial licenses. Any regulated online sportsbook that you find that has the proper regulation in South Africa is legal to use and enjoy in person or over the Internet. The primary distributor of sports betting licenses in SA is the West Cape Gambling and Racing Board.

Learn more in our legal South Africa online sports betting section of our guide.

Is Pari-Mutuel Gambling Online Legal In South Africa?

Pari-mutuel gambling is better known as the primary form of gambling that takes place at horse and dog tracks. This form of wagering has been legal in South Africa since 1965 when the second iteration of laws to regulate gambling was created in the country. In pari-mutuel gambling, the track only takes a small fee from each of the pots as they accumulate for each race. The bettors are betting directly against the other bettors and not the house as in traditional casino and poker gambling. Players will deposit their bets into a pool and the winners who chose the correct first, second, and third place finishers divide the winnings from the pool according to their stake. This form of betting is legal in both physical and online settings. Many licensed and reputable online sportsbooks and/or racebooks include South African horse race betting as well as betting on dog races.

Are Online Casinos Legal in South Africa?

They are not. According to the National Gambling Board of South Africa, the term “online gambling” refers to online casino, poker, and bingo games and has been deemed illegal. Section 11 of the National Gambling Act 2004 reads, “Person must not engage in or make available an interactive game except as authorized in terms of this Act or any other national law.” The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 looks to make provisions in SA for the regulation of online gambling websites that host casino games and poker but has been met by land-gambling establishments who are threatened by the online industry and anti-money laundering authorities who together, have halted the 2008 legislature in its tracks.

Despite these restrictions on South African legal online casinos, residents show no signs of slowing down their interest in online casino gambling. Thankfully there are a handful of licensed online casinos operating legally within the industry that still allow players from South Africa to register for an account. We do not advocate anyone breaking the law, but if you are going to gambling online, we want to see you land at a safe, reputable and regulated destination.

Are Online Poker Rooms Legal in South Africa?

No. Online poker, casino games, and bingo are all illegal in South Africa via the National Gambling Act of 2004, which has been mentioned in this guide several times already. As the attempt to release tension on online casino and poker gambling in 2008 subsequently failed, online restrictions became even sharper in 2010. In most countries that don’t have legal online gambling of their own, offshore providers are largely legal to use for the residents of the country in their domestic provider’s absence. This is not the case in South Africa after 2010. Online gambling that is offered to customers within SA from servers located outside of the country was also deemed illegal as a result of a High Court judgment in North Geuteng. The only exceptions to the changed gambling laws in 2010 were the provincially licensed horse and dog racing tracks, and online sports gambling.

Online Casino Gambling Legal South Africa Pretoria

As is the case with online casinos, there are still a number of legitimate online poker sites that accept South African players. We do not encourage it, but if you are going to go ahead and play poker online, please restrict your gaming entertainment to legitimate online poker sites that are licensed, regulated and are operating legally within the industry, such as the poker sites listed in this guide. This ensures that you are not putting yourself at risk to theft, fraud or other predatory cyber crimes.

How Safe Are Online Gambling Sites In General?

Online gambling websites are hot targets for unscrupulous and criminal digital activity. The website that you chose to patronize should have the proper security checks in place like SSL data encryption and advanced security profile, the proper licensing and regulation, and a high quality array of gambling entertainment services and banking operations. You want to make sure they have high quality anti-virus software to protect your transfers and solid reputations from third party guides such as this one concerning financial responsibility before you sign up at any online gambling provider.

Can I Gamble Using South African Rand?

Yes. Most online gambling sites that accept customers from South Africa accept ZAR currency for transactions. Should you come across a legally licensed destination that does not process transactions using South African Rand, then they assuredly provide a currency exchange service for players. Since South Africa is considered one of the largest online gambling markets out there, most reputable online gambling destinations have included ZAR as an allowed currency for processing.

Since before South Africa became a republic, gambling in most forms was banned. While the laws have changed significantly, it is certainly not a free for all, however, gambling in and of itself is no longer illegal. Gambling in land-based establishments in South Africa is legal and regulated. For many years, South Africans traveled outside of the legal borders of South African in order to go to a casino. With the changes in the gambling law, this is no longer necessary. Online gambling in South Africa is still illegal at this time.

SA'S GAMBLING ACT OF 1965

The South African Gambling Act of 1965 ruled gambling as illegal. Gambling, such as horseracing, was legal. The reason for this is because horseracing is considered a sport. In the 1970s, there were a number of illegal casinos created, with the number rising until there were about 2,000 illegal casinos in the mid 90s. Along with the change from a conservative government to a democratic one, the gambling laws were updated in 1994. At that time, gambling was legalised. In 1996, South Africa introduced a national lottery and regulated and licensed casinos.

CHANGES TO THE GAMBLING ACT IN 2004

Online Casino Gambling Legal South Africa News24

In 2004, the 1996 Act was repealed, and the National Gambling Act of 2004 came into effect. While land-based gambling was still allowed, online gambling was no longer considered legal. Again, sportsbetting, even if it was done online, was still considered legal. While online gambling is illegal, the emphasis and main responsibility seems to lie with the gambling operators and the financial institutions. To date, no individuals have been prosecuted for playing at online casinos.

GAMBLING LAW TODAY

In 2008, there was an attempt to legalise and regulate the online gambling market in South Africa, however, since there was strong opposition, the Act has not yet been accepted as law. In 2010, the North Gauteng High Court issued a ruling that gambling transactions though both local and offshore operators is illegal. While both players and operators are fully aware of this law, there are still many casino choices open to South African players.

Those who choose to play at online casinos should make sure that the casinos are safe and secure, and have a good reputation. Although the online casinos will not be licensed in South Africa, it is important to choose a casino that is fully licensed in a recognised gaming jurisdiction.

Many of the online casinos that still offer their sites to South African players will offer players the chance of playing in South African Rands (ZAR), and thereby avoiding exchange rate fees. Many casinos also offer a special Welcome Bonus or free money offer to those who are located in South Africa. In addition to this, players should keep an eye open for an online casino with top notch Customer Support team. Customer Support is available 24 hours a day, with many support teams offering a South African toll free telephone number.