Africans have always been passionate about all sorts of wagering, so it is no wonder that online casinos are thriving in South Africa and other countries on the continent. At the moment, the iGaming industry is experiencing a global rise, and South Africans are among the nations that have openly embraced wagering on the web. The local online gambling market is a pretty exciting one, and if you’d like to learn more about it, please read on.
The History of South African Gambling Laws
Regardless of the high interest in gambling, all such practices were officially banned by the government back in 1973. The only exception was horse racing which was considered a sporting activity. However, once the new government came into power in 1994, it legalized all kinds of gambling in the country. In 1996, they also introduced the National Gambling Act which obligated all establishments on the territory to get proper licensing. In 2008, the Act was amended to include the regulation of online gambling sites, which banned the locals from using unregistered virtual operators.
The Growth of Online Gambling in the Country
The demand for virtual casinos is seeing a huge rise in South Africa, and the local online gambling market is expected to reach a revenue of $736 million by the end of 2023. As a result, the list of online casinos available in South Africa keeps getting longer, and punters are faced with exciting new features regularly. The expansion of online wagering in the area is fueled by several factors, so let’s mention the most important ones:
Accessibility and Convenience
Unlike traditional land-based venues where players need to be aware of opening and closing hours, online gambling sites are available 24/7. On top of that, users can easily access their favourite games from the comfort of their homes, without taking the time to travel to the nearest physical location. Also, thanks to the increased mobile device penetration and higher availability of stable internet connections that hit South Africa in the past few years, punters can now use their smartphones to play on the go. The accessibility of online gambling sites is particularly important to players located in rural areas whose access to land-based casinos is quite limited.
Exciting Selection of Games
No matter how large a land-based establishment may be, it is still bound to face certain spatial limitations that affect the number of games available to visitors. On the contrary, today’s online casinos are built on modern platforms that allow them to host thousands of different titles that players can enjoy freely. The leading operators include all the popular casino games in their offerings, listing many variants of table classics such as poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and of course, slots. Users don’t only get to enjoy an incredible selection of titles, but they can also start playing whenever they want, without having to wait in line for their turn at the table.
Improved Economic Power
Finally, the rise of online wagering sites in South Africa has also been affected by the country’s improved economic prosperity. Thanks to that, the locals have more money to spend on online entertainment, so more individuals can afford to engage in web-based gambling.
The Future of Online Casinos in South Africa
Online casinos are facing a bright future in the country (and across the continent), so let’s go over a few relevant trends and developments that are expected to shape it:
Tech Advancements
Online casinos are always at the forefront of new technologies, and players can look forward to exciting new features. The leading operators have already embraced the use of live dealer games that allow users to feel the authentic atmosphere of real physical venues. Next, some platforms introduced the use of AR and VR gaming that offer an even higher level of immersion, and such options are expected to become mainstream soon.
Cryptocurrencies
The use of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin for online casino payments is now accepted by a significant amount of virtual operators, and that number is sure to increase. The demand for digital currencies is boosted by the unparalleled security they offer, as well as the incredible speed of transactions coupled with minimal fees. Furthermore, paying with cryptos provides players with complete anonymity along with data protection which is among the top concerns for many online punters in the area.
Gambling has gone through some turbulent times in South Africa, and now that the practice is fully regulated, more and more punters are turning to online casinos. The popularity of web-based operators among the locals has been affected by several factors such as the increased availability of mobile devices and the overall convenience of such platforms, and it will be exciting to see how the market develops in years to come.