Online Casinos in South Africa: Legal Overview for 2024
Written By Scott Lawson
When you are looking for the best online casinos in South Africa, you will come across a lot of misleading or downright false information. Right at the start of this page, let us make it clear that there are no legal South Africa online casinos. There are no exceptions to this and any website with a review that tells you otherwise should be not be trusted. Keep reading for more information.
As well as giving you the full explanation of the laws surrounding online casinos South Africa based players need to know, this page will look at the general gambling landscape. This will include land-based establishments, the history of gambling in South Africa and what the current industry is like. We will also answer some of the most frequently asked questions in this area.
Avoid Any Best South African Casinos Lists
As we said at the top of the page, South African online casinos are illegal. This will come as a disappointment to many. Also, this may come as a surprise as there are many sites out there telling users that you can legally and safely play on offshore sites. This is simply not the case, and betting at a foreign site from within SA is as illegal as gambling at a South Africa online casino. As such, all sites giving you a list of the top South African online casino sites are scamming you and trying to take advantage of the lack of clear information out there.
Sports Betting: A Legal Alternative to Online Casinos
Is Online Gambling in South Africa Legal?
The most widespread type of gambling in South Africa is sports betting. Operators have been able to get licences to open legal bookmakers for a number of years in the country, and so this has grown into a major industry. There are lots of land-based bookmakers spread throughout South Africa.
In addition to this, you can also play a number of different games at one of the land-based casinos in South Africa. The majority of these are located in Johannesburg and Cape Town, though other cities do have some establishments, and there are the likes of Sun City, which is a massive resort in the north of the country. You can play roulette, blackjack, casino poker and place bets on slot machines at land-based casinos in South Africa.
Although it is not the oldest nor the largest legal gambling market in the world, the industry still makes a lot of money every year. In a recent study, it was found that the average total gambling revenue in South Africa was R26 billion. For a nation of 56 million people, this is a pretty significant amount. In terms of responsible gambling, the country reportedly has around 2.5% of its adult population as identifiable problem gamblers.
| Land Based Casinos | 14 |
|---|---|
| National Gambling Act | Passed in 2004 |
| Gambling Regulator | National Gambling Board |
| Problem Gamblers | 2.5% of adult population |
| Annual Gambling Revenue | R26 billion |
| Gambling Winnings Tax | 15% on winnings over R25,000 |
History of Gambling in South Africa
As with many ex-colonies, the history of gambling in South Africa starts during its occupation by Great Britain. In 1673, all forms of gambling were outlawed in the territory. Gambling remained illegal in the independent South Africa. Since this time, numerous small casinos started to be opened in the Bantustans. These were independent territories within the borders of South Africa, which were home to the native people of the country and were inaccessible to white people.
Since the fall of apartheid, the new democratically elected government legalised all forms of gambling. This was done through the 1996 National Gambling Act. For eight years, things remained the same, despite some clear issues with the legislation. In 2004, this was updated with a new National Gambling Act. This allowed for strict licensing to be brought in and also outlawed all forms of online casino gambling. As mentioned earlier on the page, this extends to overseas sites marketing to those in South Africa.
Will Online Casinos Be Legalized in South Africa?
South Africa gambling is strictly and effectively regulated, and all land-based operators are required to maintain certain standards. For the last decade, the demand for online casinos has increased, therefore future legalization and changes of the laws are being discussed. While it is still uncertain when it will happen, we will make sure to follow the situation and keep you posted.
South Africa Player Questions
While we hope that this South Africa online casinos guide has provided all of the information that you might need so that you know where you stand, it is of course possible, that you will have some questions left. In order to try and help out, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions below.
Is online gambling legal in South Africa?
All online casinos are illegal in South Africa. This includes overseas sites that are not based in the country. However, you can bet on legal and licensed sports betting sites. Additionally, other forms of gambling comprise a thriving segment of the industry.
Which is the best online sportsbook in South Africa?
There are currently three top betting sites available for players from South Africa.
Are casino winnings taxable in South Africa?
For any gambling earnings below R25,000, then you do not have to pay any gambling winnings tax. However, for all money over this threshold, even from the lottery, you will need to pay a 15% withholding tax. Click here for a full overview of the gambling situation.
Conclusion: Don’t Trust Any Best Online Casinos South Africa List
At the end of this guide, you may still be disappointed not to have found a list of the best online casinos in South Africa. We really would love to be able to bring you the top South Africa casino sites but doing so would be a massive disservice to you. The reason is simple: all online casinos are illegal in South Africa.
This does not mean that you cannot gamble legally and safely in the country. There are lots of excellent land-based casinos, with even a few world-class resorts, and you can play the lottery or bet on sports. If you want to visit a bookie, you can even do so online. The sports betting industry is safe and regulated in South Africa, making it a great option for gambling.