The world of online gambling in South Africa can be a complex and confusing place to be thanks to some questionable legality muddying the water for players and casinos alike.
There are no online casinos based in South Africa, but that doesn’t mean that players are out of luck when it comes to playing. There are plenty of great online casinos offering the best games from the best software providers available today and for the players, there’s nothing illegal to worry about.
So what are the best South African online casinos, what is the legality of online gambling in South Africa and what can you expect from the software providers?
Best South African Online Casinos
There are plenty of casinos catering to the South African market but thanks to the legal situation, there’s plenty of dodgy ones out there too.
If you’re looking to cut to the chase and find the top South African online casinos, you’re in the right place. Take a look at the table below to see the top sites currently accepting players from South Africa.
Is online gambling legal in South Africa?
Gambling at an online casino has been ruled as illegal in South Africa since 2010, despite land-based casinos permitted to function.
However, players in South Africa looking to play online aren’t without options and a number of casinos targeting solely South African players are available. Although online gambling is recognised as illegal, these online casinos are not actually based in South Africa and exploit a loophole as they function as offshore platforms.
The government has been rumoured to take action to access these offshore casinos, but these are empty threats as of current. Saliently, at the time of writing, players accessing these sites are not prosecuted, allowing them to play freely at foreign-based sites.
The SA online casino market
Although there are no online casinos available that are based in South Africa, there are a number of casinos that cater to and specifically target the South African market.
It is currently illegal to advertise as well a operate online casinos within South Africa, however plenty of sites including ZARCasino, Springbok Casino, and Thunderbolt Online Casino all offer casino games to SA players.
However, with the illegality of online gambling in South Africa, some casinos have taken this as an opportunity to cheat the system and the players that trust and sign up to their sites. It’s important to do your homework before signing up and checking with trustworthy sources (like ourselves) to ensure that you’re signing up to a high-quality casino.
Looking for a valid gambling license and ensuring that the casino adheres to gambling regulations is a great start. The UK Gambling Commission, Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, Alderney Gambling Control Commission and Isle of Man Control Commission forming the best of the bunch in the licensing world with others not quite performing to the highest level.
What South African software providers are available?
There are many different software providers available to South African players looking to play online at foreign casinos.
The software choice is dictated by the casino chosen with each online casino offering slightly different providers and thus slightly different games. Some of the most popular software providers can be found below.
NetEnt
NetEnt, otherwise known as Net Entertainment, is one of the best known most popular and well-known software providers in the industry thanks to a selection of award-winning games.
The focus in undoubtedly aimed towards slots with a rich arsenal including Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, Twin Spin and countless others. There’s also a selection of branded slots ranging from “Guns N’ Roses! And “Ozzy Osbourne” to “Street Fighter II: The World Warrior” and Jumanji.
Microgaming
Microgaming is another well-known game provider available for those in South Africa to spot in foreign-based online casinos.
The software producer offers everything from the famed “Mega Moolah” and “Thunderstruck II” slots as well as plenty of table games inducing “Multifire Roulette” and “Vegas Strip Blackjack” alongside countless others.
Playtech
Playtech offers plenty of different games that the average online casino frequenter will be able to spot thanks to a slot-focused library.
Games such as “Great Blue”, “Man of Steel” and “Age of the Gods” all stem from the Playtech factory, making their games some of the most played across the globe.
Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming is the go-to game provider for all things live dealer, standing head and shoulders above the competition.
Their live blackjack, roulette, poker and baccarat is the favourite of many live casino players, but it’s their own twist and game inventions that really set them apart from the crowd. The Lightning game selection adds an extra level of excitement whilst games such as Dreamcatcher and Monopoly add a game show feel to the online world.
What South African banking methods are available?
The majority of sites that cater specifically to South African players will accept the South African Rand (ZAR) as the main currency of choice.
Taking ZARCasino as an example, deposits can be made via debit card, EFT or Bitcoin and can then be withdrawn via wire transfer or Bitcoin.
Banking methods will differ from casino to casino so it may be worth checking out if you’re looking to bank in specific ways when gambling online.
Summary
Advertising and operating an online casino in South Africa is illegal, but choosing to play at a foreign casino is not.
Residents of South Africa looking to enjoy online gaming can do so without the fear of prosecution thanks to a number of foreign casinos catering to the SA market. Casinos such as ZARCasino, Springbok Casino, and Thunderbolt Online Casino form just a small part of the market, but there are many sites available for players to enjoy.
Due to the legality, it’s important that players conduct their own research, ensuring that sites of interest are licenced and abide gambling regulations to avoid being cheated at an untrustworthy online casino.