In South Africa, the National Gambling Board is in charge of regulating online gambling. The only activities that are legal are betting on sports and horse racing through licensed bookmakers. Other ways of gambling online, such as online casinos that are not in the country, are illegal.
But many online casinos still let South Africans play. However, it’s important to know that it’s technically illegal to play at these sites. Still, if you decide to play at an online casino, it’s important to know the rules and play responsibly.
South African Gambling Laws and Regulations
South Africa’s gambling laws have changed a lot since the South Africa Gambling Act of 1965 was passed. Since then, the gambling business has also changed a lot. The rise of online casinos has added a new angle to the discussion.
Even though the National Gambling Act of 2004 made it illegal to gamble online in South Africa and new laws passed in September 2011 made it clear that online gambling is illegal in South Africa, there are still a lot of South Africans who enjoy the services and games of good online casinos.
The reason for this is that South African laws about online gambling are aimed at the online casinos themselves and not at the players. The rules for each online casino game are different. The basics of how to play most games are the same at most online casinos. Here are some general rules and tips for playing some of the most popular online casino games:
- Slots: Slots are one of the most popular games at online casinos. They are also one of the easiest to play. To spin the reels, you choose how much you want to bet and click the “spin” button. If you get a winning combination of symbols, you win.
- Blackjack: In blackjack, the goal is to get a hand total as close to 21 as possible without going over. You start with two cards. You can either “hit” to get more cards or “stand” to keep what you have.
- Roulette: In roulette, you bet on a number, colour, or group of numbers, and the dealer spins the wheel. If you bet on a number or colour and the ball lands on that number or colour, you win.
- Video Poker: In video poker, you get five cards and can choose which ones to keep and which ones to throw away to try to make the best poker hand possible.
South Africa’s Most Famous Gambling Games
The main reason you visit an online casino that accepts real money is so you can play thrilling online casino games. Both classic fruit machines, and cutting-edge video slots with hundreds of different ways to win are hugely popular with ZA gamblers. Another option is to play a table game like roulette, blackjack, craps, or baccarat.
Live dealer games, where you interact with a human dealer in real time, are available at several online casinos that welcome players from South Africa. Video poker slots and craps are two more common gambling options. All the top-rated South African online casinos we recommend provide a wide variety of exciting games, both free and for real money.
Final Thoughts
No matter the game you play, always gamble within your means and never risk more than you can afford to lose. Before playing at an online casino, you should make sure you always read the terms and conditions and familiarize yourself with the hazards involved.
