It’s clear. All forms of gambling in South Africa are illegal. The only exception is sports betting in football and other sports. Even so, the government has put several restrictions.
So where do you turn to?
In this article, we’ll look at gambling regulations in the Kingdom of the Zulu. We will then shift focus to 10bet and other casinos that accept South African players. Ready? Let’s get the ball rolling.
Gambling Regulation in South Africa
The government of South Africa got serious about regulating the country’s gambling sector in 1996. That’s because the number of illegal gambling dens by the end of 1995 was sky-high. About 2000, to be specific.
The truth is, illegal casinos were pretty convenient to SA gamblers. No taxes, no long registration processes, just gambling and winning real money.
However, on the government’s side, this translated to revenue losses. The government saw unregulated casinos as missed revenue. That’s when they took steps to license, police, and control this sector.
In 1996, parliament passed the National Gambling Act. Basically, this act legalized all forms of gambling in the country. Remember, before this Act, only horse racing was legal in South Africa.
Independent Territories that Legalized Gambling
Before the 1996 Gambling Act, 4 independent territories had legalized gambling. In fact, when gambling became illegal in 1965, these territories began issuing licenses 5 years later.
The 4 territories, also called TVBC, were:
- Transkei
- Bophuthatswana
- Venda
- Ciskei
Of course, when South Africa became democratic in 1994, the 4 territories joined South Africa. After becoming part of South Africa, gambling was still illegal. These territories, however, continued offering gambling licenses.
The National Gambling Act 2004
The Gambling Act of 996 seemed to cover pretty much everything. It was, however, amended and replaced in 2004 by the new Gambling Act. In this new Act, all forms of online gambling in South Africa were deemed illegal. The only exception was sports betting.
The National Gambling Amendment Act 2008
Again, in 2008, the 2004 Gambling Act was amended. The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 replaced it. This Act banned all offshore operators from offering gambling services to South Africans. Despite these restrictions, some offshore operators still accepted South Africans.
Remote Bill 2014
The government of South Africa saw how hard it would be to control gambling. That’s when they introduced the Remote Bill of 2014. Unfortunately, the Bill is yet to be passed in Parliament. Since it still hasn’t been passed (as of now), all forms of gambling, except sports betting, remain illegal.
South Africa’s Gambling Regulator
The National Gambling Board (NGB) regulates all gambling activities in the 9 provinces of SA. It was formed in 1996, the same year South Africa’s National Gambling Act was passed.
Besides the NGB, all 9 provinces in South Africa have their regulatory bodies. These boards can issue licenses to operators in their regions.
Casino operators in South Africa can apply for national or provincial licenses. As the names suggest, the national license allows an operator to offer services at a national level. This, of course, costs more than a provincial license which is region-based.
Notably, the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB) is the biggest province licensing board. It issues more licenses than other bodies.
Other gambling regulatory bodies that fall under these provinces include:
- Free State
- Eastern Cape
- Gauteng
- Limpopo
- Northern Cape
- Mpumalanga
- KwaZulu – Natal
- North West
These gambling regulatory bodies can only issue up to 40 licenses. The National Gambling Board decides which body needs to issue more licenses.
Gambling Taxes in South Africa
Casino players don’t need to pay taxes. This is automatic because casino gambling is not legal in South Africa.
Also, winnings from sports betting are not subject to taxation. There is, however, a 6% levy on winnings from horse racing. This explains that horse racing is decreasing in popularity while other sports are becoming more popular.
In 2011, the government proposed the introduction of a national gambling tax. According to the proposal, any winnings exceeding R25,000 should be subject to a 15% tax.
Where to Play Online Casino Games in South Africa
Remember we said some online casinos accept players from South Africa despite the illegalization? Here are some of the top SA sites where you can play casino games:
10Bet
Undoubtedly, 10Bet Casino offers it all. The casino has been around since 2003. Now that’s a pretty long time, don’t you think?
The casino offers exciting bonuses to new SA gamblers. Even better, you don’t need to cash in huge amounts to qualify for the bonus. On top of that, the welcome offer comes with reasonable wagering requirements.
The games section at 10Bet comes packed with pretty much everything. You will find thousands of slots, table games, and live games. You can be sure of innovative games because 10Bet offers casino games from reputable developers.
Away from games, 10Bet casino offers military-grade security. You can, thus, be sure of the safety of your funds.
Betway
Since 2006, Betway has been blowing up globally, even in South Africa. In fact, there’s an exclusive Betway site just for South Africans.
The casino has a valid license from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. So, no need to worry about Betway’s trustworthiness.
Betway Casino offers huge bonuses to South African players. So, you can be sure of increased playtime, which may ultimately lead to more winning opportunities.
When it comes to payments, Betway has got you covered. You’ll appreciate that the bookmaker tailors payment methods to South African players. So, you can make withdrawals and deposit funds using South African payment methods.
Yebo Casino
Whatever your gaming needs, look no further; Yebo Casino has got you. Yebo means “Yes” in Zulu, by the way.
This online casino is a leading site that accepts South African gamblers. It offers over 200 online casino games. These include table games and slots.
Yebo Casino offers over 9 payment methods. Besides Bitcoin, you can use EasyEFT, ecoPayz, and VISA. The lowest deposit amount is R25, and the minimum withdrawal amount is R500.
As for security, all your funds and personal information are safe at Yebo Casino. The site uses SSL encryption technology and keeps your information confidential.
Spin247 Casino
Ready to spin the reels endlessly? More like 24/7? If you are, then Spin247 Casino is your go-to online site.
The casino debuted in 2019, making it a rather new site that accepts South African players. It holds a Curacao license, meaning it’s trustworthy.
As a new SA player, Spin247 Casino will award you a welcome offer. Besides that, you can grab a regular bonus at the casino.
When it comes to games, Spin247 doesn’t just offer online slots. There are table games and live dealer games in plenty. These games are from well-known casino game developers.
Supabets Casino
With an up-to-date Mpumalanga Gambling Board license, Supabets is a legit online site. Besides that, it uses a Security Sockets Layer to protect your data from hacking. This means it’s a safe site.
One thing you’ll appreciate about Supabets Casino is its modern layout. It makes it easier to find what you’re looking for. On top of that, Supabets pages load quickly, making transitions smooth.
Because Supabets offers services to South African players, the payment methods it offers cater to South Africans. That means you can make payments using local methods such as EasyEFT, among other international payment options.
The best part about Supabets is it comes with a web-based phone version. This means you can access it using your Android or iOS device without downloading any software.
Bottom Line
There has been a long discussion on gambling regulation in South Africa. Despite the legalization and banning of gambling in the country, several sites still accept South African players. According to the site onlinecasinosrealmoney.co.nz New Zealand is going toward a regulated market just like South Africa is doing so. South Africa is just one step ahead of already licensing the first operators while New Zealand hasn’t even started to creating laws for it.
Licensed gambling sites such as 10Bet allow South African gamblers to play casino games without any implications. The site features modern games from well-known software developers. Also, they offer the best bonuses with reasonable requirements. Away from that, you can expect the best customer support and guaranteed security.
All in all, gambling is still illegal in South Africa. All eyes are on the government to see if they will legalize gambling soon so that casino operators can set up shop in the country.
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