Gambling Law in South Africa – Regulation & Facts
South Africa is a country that has always been adamant on having a strict gambling regulation. The state has applied a number of measures to protect players while maintaining individual freedoms. We will tell you all about it in our review of the gambling law in South Africa.
Overview of the Gambling Laws in South Africa
South Africa is one of the African countries with the most rigorous gambling regulations. Until the 1970s, only horserace betting was allowed in the country. The gambling laws in South Africa have changed several times throughout the years. However, the local governments have always had the same goal in mind – to limit the negative effects of gambling on citizens and visitors alike.
Nowadays, South Africa allows residents to choose between several legalised gambling activities. You can enjoy the following options: horserace betting, lottery, and land-based casinos. Online casino gaming is not allowed. You can use the Internet to bet on sports and horseracing though.
History of the South African Gambling Laws
The country has always been very cautions about gambling. For instance, to this day, you cannot play legal gambling games at online casinos in South Africa. However, let’s take a closer look at the history.
In 1965, South Africa passed a Gambling Act that outlawed all forms of gambling except for horserace betting. The latter had the status of a sports activity, so it was sort of socially accepted. However, the government soon learned that citizens still wanted to play games of chance.
That is how, at the end of the 1970s, land-based casinos started opening in the homelands, the nominally independent areas of the country also called bantustans. The first brick-and-mortar casinos appeared in Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda.
However, these areas were only populated with native South Africans. Most of the country’s citizens could not access the casinos. This fact resulted in a dire outcome. By 1995, close to 2000 illegal land-based casinos opened in the country.
The government that came to power in 1994 had modern views on gambling. It took steps to legalise certain forms of wagering. That is how the 1996 National Gambling Act came into being. According to the new gambling law in South Africa, a single national lottery was inaugurated, and horseracing officially acquired the status of a gambling activity.
In addition, the legislation inaugurated a system of legalised casinos. A total of 40 land-based casinos opened across the country as a result. The National Gambling Act of 1996 also established the National Gambling Board.
Lottery in South Africa
The most popular and socially acceptable gambling game in South Africa is the National Lottery. It was established in 2000 and has become a widespread form of entertainment since then. That said, South Africa’s National Lottery did undergo a few rough patches.
For instance, it was suspended for a few months between April 2007 and October 2007. However, nowadays the National Lottery enjoys great interest and is absolutely legal according to the South African gambling laws. In 2019, it had a revenue of R2.33 billion. The numbers are growing by the year, and the Lottery continues to thrive.
Casinos and Horseracing in South Africa
As we said, casinos and horseracing are also legal in South Africa. According to the gambling laws in South Africa, there are a total of 40 land-based casinos in the country. Their location is set across the homelands as the local regulation prescribes.
Most of the South African brick-and-mortar casinos are located in the big metropolitan cities. The most prominent one is the Rio Casino Resort. It is the largest land-based casino in Africa and the fifth largest in the world.
Johannesburg also has a few well-known casinos. There, you can play different gambling games. These include slot machines, roulette, poker, baccarat, and more. Please note that it comes down to casino games in a real land-based establishment, and not online games, such as video and jackpot slots at ZAR casino sites, or others.
Horserace betting is also considered a legal form of gambling in South Africa. It is very popular among the local adult population. Betting on horseracing events falls under the domain of Saftote. In KwaZulu-Natal, it is operated by the Gold Circle and the Western Cape. The rest of the country falls within the operation of Phumelela.
Online Gambling Law in South Africa
The country has been very cautious about allowing online gambling. That’s why the online gambling law in South Africa prohibits playing at casino sites. There are no valid online casino bonuses in South Africa, neither mobile promotions for iOS and Android users. The only available forms of online wagering include sports betting and horserace betting.
A few years ago, there was an attempt to legalise online casinos. However, the domestic land-based casinos united to overthrow the move for fear it would harm their business. Nowadays, if you try any illegal online gaming activity, you can even be criminally charged.
More About Mobile Gambling in South Africa
South African players are very keen on mobile gambling. Although the online gambling South Africa law prohibits any kinds of gaming sites other than these accepting sports wagers, you can still use a mobile phone to bet on horseraces and sports. Most of the horserace and sports betting platforms have excellent mobile-optimised websites, and native iOS/Android applications.
Gambling Law in South Africa FAQ
We hope you have found the available information useful. We would like to provide you with a convenient way to check the answers to some of the most common questions about the gambling law in South Africa. Therefore, we invite you to browse the FAQ section below.
1️⃣ Is gambling legal in South Africa?
Yes, there are some legal forms of gambling in South Africa. These include horserace betting, sports betting, the National Lottery, and land-based casinos. The online gambling South Africa laws are very strict and they prohibit any kind of websites, except those offering online sports wagering.
2️⃣ What are the current gambling laws in South Africa?
The history of gambling in South Africa is very interesting. In 1965, the government outlawed all forms of gambling other than horserace betting. Later on, it allowed the opening of licensed land-based casinos. However, illegal casinos still appeared in great numbers. That is how the modern South African gambling laws came into place to address this issue.
3️⃣ What are the online gambling South Africa laws?
You cannot play slot games, poker, blackjack, roulette, and so on via the Internet. For instance, online casinos are forbidden. It is not a secret that the online gambling law in South Africa is very strict. However, you can legally participate online only at websites offring horserace betting and sports betting options.
4️⃣ Is mobile gambling regulated in South Africa?
While most forms of gaming websites are outlawed by the online gambling law in South Africa, you can still participate in legal mobile gaming activities. You can use a mobile phone or a tablet to legally bet only on horseraces and sports events.
5️⃣ Are there legal lotto games in South Africa?
Yes, the Souith African National Lottery is completely legal. It is a very popular and socially acceptable form of gambling. The National Lottery is a monopoly of the state. It attracts many players of different backgrounds because it is affordable, easily available, and covered by the gambling laws in South Africa.