Gambling Legislation South Africa

1. Gambling, whether physical or online, has always been a great source of revenue to the economy of South Africa. Inconsistencies in regulation and laws have made the industry a largely illegal one.
2. Find the best online casinos for South African players in 2020. Enjoy top rated legal South African online casinos in Rand/ZAR with great online casino games & free online casino bonuses.

Your guide to finding legit ZAR casinos. Find out if they are legit before playing for real. Guide to Online Gambling Legislation in South Africa in 2020 - We look at the laws and regulation for gambling in SA + how it affects you.

The online gambling industry is a vast and expansive world of casino games, sportsbook odds, and sign-up deals all vying for your attention and patronage. With the growth of mobile connectivity, one can access an online gambling site from anywhere in the world. But is it legal to do so?

Well, that depends on where you are currently located and what site you are trying to bet with. The legalities of online gambling are an extremely complicated issue due to the multitude of jurisdictions and regulating bodies around the world. Some countries with legalized gambling allow citizens to access any online casinos while others only permit access to sites legislated by that state.

For this reason, we’ve designed this guide to help you determine what your options are relative to where you are located! Read a bit further down so that you may enjoy online gambling while staying on the right side of the law.

For those that want to jump to the chase, we have organized the information by region:

What Do We Mean by “Online Gambling/Licensing Jurisdictions”?

As we mentioned before, different regions of the world approach online gambling differently. Some have outright made the practice illegal, others have chosen to regulate the industry within their borders heavily. Some countries allow you to access offshore sites, where others do not.

For example, the United Kingdom once allowed bettors to access any online casino of their choice since gambling is legal there. However, in 2012 the laws were changed, and only casinos with equipment in the UK and duly licensed by the UK Gambling Commission are legal. So, depending on where you are, your options will change.

There is a wide range of jurisdictions and regulatory bodies out there, and as we saw with the previous example, they are always subject to change. It is forever a good idea to be current on local laws as they pertain to gambling, but that’s not all. You also want to be mindful of the various organizations out there issuing the licenses and enforcing the rules. You may find all of this information in this guide or on this site.

Why Is Online Gambling Regulation & Legislation Important for You?

The first reason learning about industry regulation and legislation is essential is for your financial safety. Many online gamblers get scammed by unlicensed, unregulated websites that look legitimate, then disappear with everyone’s money like an office in the movie Boiler Room. Depending on the jurisdiction, a licensed and regulated online casino can ensure you fair odds, the ability to withdraw your money at your convenience, and that they won’t just close up shop out of the blue.

But be warned! There are some regulating bodies out there, typically operating out of small, Caribean Islands that offer little more than a license in exchange for cash. They don’t police the sites themselves or provide any consumer protections.

Further, some gambling sites will follow regulations long enough to be granted a license from one of the governing bodies, which they will proudly display on their website, only to stop adhering to the rules shortly after. They lure potential gamblers into a false sense of security for the purposes of receiving more deposits. But don’t worry, sites like this one will help you select your sites wisely!

Below are some links to various licensing bodies you may encounter online. You will want to read these guides to confirm that any site you are planning to use is actually being regulated by the licensing authority that they boast on their front page:

The second reason to be mindful of regulation is merely to guarantee that you are operating within the law. While it’s rare for individual users to be tracked down and punished for using illegal online gambling sites, it can still be problematic. For instance, what happens if you hit the jackpot and win big? Receiving large amounts of money from an online account tied to gambling could raise some eyebrows, depending on the country you are in.

For a more thorough look at online gambling regulation, please see our guide dedicated to this subject:

Online Gambling Laws by Region

North America

United States

Online gambling in the United States operates in a bit of a grey area. On the one hand, it is not expressly illegal federally; but on the other hand, it is not legal either. In fact, in 2006 legislation was passed which made it illegal for banks to participate in transactions between online casinos and financial institutions.

In response, many gambling operators stopped allowing US customers to play on their sites. However, others persisted in accepting customers from the States, arguing that as long as they were licensed and regulated within their own jurisdiction, they were not being unlawful in receiving customers from there.

Currently, the legality of online gambling mainly depends on the state in which one is residing. Some have legalized the practice, offering their own licensing and regulation procedures within their borders. Others outlaw online gaming entirely, while many more continue to debate how they will handle the issue.

To learn the legality of online gambling in your state, please follow the links below:

Canada

Similar to the United States, the providences in Canada regulate online gambling in their own regions. While some rely on the country-wide laws to cover gaming, others offer and operate their individual gambling institutions.

No Canadian law explicitly makes gambling online illegal. However, there is a law that makes providing gaming services to Canadian citizens without a license from the government illegal. Like it’s neighbor to the South, online gambling is a bit of a grey area in Canada.

For a more in-depth understanding of gambling laws in Canada, check out our full guide at the link below:

South America

At least some form of gambling is legal in most South American countries, but there are some restrictions. Some nations only allow lotteries or betting on horse races, for instance. Most importantly, gambling on foreign websites is legal throughout most of the continent. Some countries even provide their own regulatory bodies to govern the industry.

For the gambling laws in each individual country, please read our full guide linked below:

Oceania

The laws governing gambling in Australia are stringent. Currently, only sports betting and lotteries are permitted to be wagered on legally. These rules are covered by the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, which makes casino games and live betting illegal. Regardless, no laws are prohibiting Australian residents from accessing and utilizing overseas gambling websites, so there is a loophole.

New Zealand, on the other hand, has apparent and concise rules for online gambling. Since 2003, their law has stated explicitly that citizens of New Zealand may legally access overseas gambling operators. The only caveat is that the sites offering these services may not advertise in the country.

For more details about the country-specific laws in Oceania, follow the link below:

Europe

Online gambling laws in Europe vary from country to country. Some outright ban the industry, while several others heavily regulate and legalize the activity. One country with a comprehensive and well defined regulatory process is the United Kingdom.

The Gambling Commission in the UK licenses all gambling institutions available to the citizenry of the country. This includes online gaming. Citizens of the country may not access gambling websites operated or authorized outside of the country.

France has similar laws to the UK; only they allow overseas websites that meet their legislative criteria. For the specific gambling laws legislating each country in Europe, check out these individual guides:

United Kingdom*
Russia*
Ukraine*
Germany*
Poland*
Norway*
France*
Finland*
Sweden*

Asia

When it comes to Asia, there is a lot of variance in the gambling laws from country to country. Unmistakably, Asia is an enormous continent, so it makes sense that opinions towards gambling should fluctuate. For this reason, here are some specific gambling law guides to individual Asian countries:

India*
Malaysia*
Thailand*
China*
Japan*
Macau*
Hong Kong*
Singapore*

Africa

Gambling legislation of any kind is uncommon in Africa, with the notable exception of South Africa. Many land-based gambling operations operate throughout the continent, but specific laws for taking the activity online are rare.

Due to South Africa being the only country with specific online gambling legislation, we have focused our gambling law guide to this country alone.

For more information regarding online gambling law in South Africa, follow the link below:

Regulatory Bodies/ Licensing Authorities

Alderney

The licensing authority in Alderney is the Alderney Gaming Control Commission. They impose rigorous rules and regulations on the operations that wish to obtain gaming licenses. For this reason, they are one of the most respected online gambling jurisdictions.

Antigua & Barbuda

The Antigua Directorate of Offshore Gambling began issuing gambling licenses for online operations back in 1994. In fact, at one time this infamous offshore banking hub had more active licenses than any other gambling-based regulatory body in the world.

Belize

Similarly to Antigua & Barbuda, Belize entered the world of online gambling licensing very early. In 1996, the Belize Computer Wagering License Board was established. As of 2004, companies operating under one of Belize’s licenses must house their customer service operation in Belize, while the rest of the organization may be located elsewhere.

Costa Rica

While Costa Rica does offer general licenses, there is a distinct lack of actual regulation provided. Online casinos operating under only a Costa Rican license should raise some red flags for the potential customer. There are no specific betting or gambling licenses, just a general license that is easily obtained for a fee.

Curacao

This Carribean Island is famous for its expansive offshore banking industry. It has now also become a hub for offshore gambling operations as well. Their gambling regulation is handled by the Curacao e-Gaming Licensing Authority, which offers a single gaming license to cover all forms of gambling. They require gaming operations to use hardware located within the country’s e-zone, in exchange for staggering low taxation.

Cyprus

The Ministry of Finance overseas this country’s gambling regulation and licensing. The only forms of gambling allowed in this jurisdiction are fixed-odds betting and lottery-style games.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a strict, well respected licensing authority. It has been providing gambling licenses since 1998 and has an excellent reputation for their regulatory practices. Their licensing in overseen by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, which investigates the eligibility and suitability of operations hoping to obtain a license.

The Isle of Man

The requirements to obtain a license in this jurisdiction are severe. Issued by the Gambling Supervision Commission, any operation boasting this permit has been thoroughly vetted and will continue to be so. They carefully monitor compliance which is very positive for potential patrons.

Kahnawake

This regulatory jurisdiction is operated out of an Indian reserve in Canada. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established in 1998 and began issuing gaming licenses one year later. They work in close cooperation with many other regulators throughout the world.

Malta

Malta’s Lotteries & Gaming Authority regulates one of the largest gambling jurisdictions in the European Union. They investigate applicants before approval, and are responsible for all regulations and licensing in the region.

Panama

Panama became a gambling legislation jurisdiction in 2002. Their regulations are executed by the Panama Gaming Control Board. This organization vets potential licensors and certifies that they meet the standards set by the board.

The article of Gambling in your country highlights the state of the gambling in the world. The gambling business in the world is developing at a rapid pace. The total revenue of the casinos and the gambling in the world is more than USD 450 billion. The land-based casinos continue to bring billions of dollars in revenue. The revenues of the online casinos are growing every year – this is especially evident in the analysis of gambling in Europe. Features of European gambling business. Top list of countries to be visited by fans of casino games.

Gambling Legislation South Africa Population

The growth of the industry is due to the fact that more and more states legalize gambling. They have introduced various legislations for the regulation of the land-based casinos and online casinos. The government sees by the experience of the neighbours that legalized the gambling could bring significant revenues to the budget.

Until 2008, the market was dominated by the gambling industry in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Now the centre is moving to the Chinese Macau. The analytics of the Company Research and Markets predict the further development of gambling in Asia. For example, now Singapore is the gambling country near China, with two gambling mega-complex is a serious rival to Las Vegas.

The state of the gambling in some countries is characterized in detail in the section gambling in your Country article.

The history of gambling

All countries of the world have their own peculiarities. The gambling industry is developing in different ways, depending on the location: in Europe, the USA or Muslim country. The article in the section of Gambling in your Country tells the history of gambling in various countries.

It is known that people played the games of chance in the third millennium BC. Then in China loved the prototypes keno and lottery, and in Egypt played excitedly a Senet – a board game with chips (see the article 'Gambling business in Egypt.').

The card games

The ninth century BC was marked by the appearance of the card games in China. Baccarat appeared in Italy and France in the 13th century. The first casinos appeared in Italy – was an opened a restaurant in Venice in 1638. Then, almost immediately there was opened a casino in Baden-Baden, Germany.

The ancient form of poker existed in Persia and France in the 17th century. The flowering of the game in its current form began in 1829 when New Orleans was the first gambling capital of the USA.

Slot machines

When the first settlers mastered America, they found that the Indians play something like gambling. The British and the French brought the roulette, blackjack, and other popular games. The first slot machines appeared in the US in the 1887-1891 year. Now the slots bring up to 70% of the profits to the gambling establishments. In the relevant section of the site, you can find the useful information about playing slots for money.

Gambling Laws South Africa

Legislation of the gambling business

The article of Gambling in your Country section provides a detailed overview of the legal framework for gambling. Each country has its own characteristics. In addition, there is a different attitude to the land casinos and online casinos. The gambling in Europe, gambling in Asia, gambling in Australia has their peculiarities.

In most countries, the land-based casinos are allowed:

1. Completely resolved in 66% of countries in the world.
2. Completely banned – 22%;
3. Legal in specific areas – 8%;
4. Legal only for foreigners – 4%.

The situation with the online gambling is somewhat more complicated:

1. The online casinos are not prohibited in 40% of countries;
2. Absolutely prohibited in 19%;
3. Allowed only foreign online casino – 12%;
4. A license is required for all online casino – 14%;
5. A license is required for a local casino – 15%.

The article of the section Gambling in your Country covers in detail how are regulated (or not regulated) the land and online casinos.

For example, Georgia has one of the most graceful and transparent legal systems in the gaming industry. The US cannot boast of it, and now their acts impede the development of online gambling.

Taxation of the gambling business in the world

The section of the article Gambling in your Country talks about the taxation in different countries. Each country decides the matter in its own way. Basically, the governments prefer to impose a charge on operators and organizers of the gambling. They may charge:

• For a license;
• For game objects (tables and slot machines);
• The percentage of the organizations' revenues (VAT);
• Separate gambling tax;
• The payment to the fund for treatment against the game addiction.

Some countries, in addition to the taxes on the operators, charge a fee on winnings. For example, all the players in Macau are required to pay 40% of the winnings to the government. The foreign players in the US have to pay 30%. In France, the tax rate depends on the type of game: Poker (2%) or sports betting (7.5%).

The taxation of different countries is described in the section of the Gambling in your Country article. Here you will learn which countries prefer certain types of tax, and what are the tax revenues from gambling in the budget of the various states.

Regulators of the gambling business

The countries with the legalized gambling establish a special regulatory body. At the moment, the most influential gambling regulators are:

1. UK Gambling Commission and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission – in the United Kingdom;
2. Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta – Malta;
3. American Gaming Association, Nevada Gaming Control Board, and the National Indian Gaming Commission – in the United States;
4. Act Gambling and Racing Commission and New Zealand Gambling Commission – in Australia and Oceania;
5. National Gambling Board – in South Africa.

As a rule, there is the age limit for the access to the casino – 18 or 21 years old. In different countries is in different ways, somewhere the game may depend on the types of gambling.

Modern gambling business

In the article gambling in your Country, you will find a description of the state of gambling separately by country.

In 2015 and 2016 the global gambling market experienced some turmoil: in the Chinese, Macau was carried a monitoring of the VIP-players, and in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, was seen a slow decline in the profits. Nevertheless, in 2016 the market was stabilized. The total revenues of the gambling market in the world were up to USD 452 billion in 2014. The analysts predict an increase in revenues up to USD 511 billion in 2019.

The largest operators in the gaming market, according to Technavio:

• 888 Holdings – an online casino network;
• Betfair Group – bookmaker from the UK;
• Caesars Entertainment – owns 52 floating and land-based casinos in the US and abroad;
• Camelot – UK lottery company;
• INTRALOT – provider of online and interactive content for casinos and bookmakers;
• Las Vegas Sands – American developer of gambling and entertainment complexes;
• MGM Resorts – American company, also engaged in large gaming complexes;
• SJM Holdings – engaged in casino in Macau;
• William Hill – Online bookmaker based in Gibraltar.

Gambling in Europe

The gambling in Europe continues to develop successfully. In 2015, the land-based casino's revenues were up to EUR 77.7 billion, and the revenue of the online casinos were EUR 16.5 billion. The most popular sector in the European online industry – is a sports betting, which occupies 37% of the market.

The most gambling countries in Europe:

1. Ireland – the expenditure per adult inhabitant per year is USD 588;
2. Finland – USD 553;
3. Italy – USD 517;
4. Norway – USD 448;
5. Greece – USD 420;
6. Spain – the expenditure per adult inhabitant per year is USD 418.

The lottery and bingo – are the games permitted in Europe, even in the countries where the gambling is prohibited. For example, in the Netherlands, the monopoly Holland Casino, owned by the state is engaged in gambling. The largest revenues in the budget come from the monopoly of the National Lottery – EUR 347, 7 million a year.

Gambling in the UK

In 2016 in the United Kingdom were:

1. 8709 points bookmakers;
2. 167839 slot machines;
3. 575 sites for bingo;
4. 148 casino.

The most popular gambling in the UK – it is online (33%), the national lottery (25%) the betting (24%). The total revenue from the gambling in the UK from April 2015 to March 2016 was EUR 16.4 Bln.

Gambling in Spain

Spain is considered one of the most gambling nations. The country has more than 40 casinos. The online gambling for 2015 showed an increase of 26%:

• The sports betting brings most of all income – EUR 179 million;
• followed by the online casino – EUR 67,5 m;
• Poker – EUR 59,8 m;
• Bingo – EUR 7,8 Million.

Gambling in Asia

The gambling in Asia in 2008 seized the primacy from the United States. Asia keeps more than 30% of the gambling market. Already in 2011, four of the five largest gambling corporations were Asian: Genting Singapore, Sands China, Wynn Macau, and SJM Holdings.

For a long time in the Asian regions were allowed only to bets on horse races and lotteries. In 2002 began the flourishing of Macau. In 2012, only in a month the Macau industry received USD 3, 5 billion.

Currently, there are several gambling countries in Asia, which represent a multi-billion dollar market:

1. Macao;
2. Singapore;
3. Philippines;
4. Indian Goa;
5. Laos;
6. Cambodia.

Gambling Regulations South Africa

The horseracing – is one of the permitted games around the world. Even the most stringent Muslim Asian countries allow their residents to watch the horse racing and bet on them, even though it is called differently. For example, in Iran, there are 'predictions' on sports or horse racing. As long as the 'predictions' are conducted by approved channels, it is considered legal.

Pachinko in Japan – is a form of slot machines. Technically, they are illegal, because the gambling is forbidden in Japan. But pachinko is recognized as a form of entertainment, and they can be played using tokens. These tokens can be exchanged for prizes or money.

Gambling in Australia

Illegal Gambling Act South Africa

The gambling in Australia brings to the government budget about USD 3.6 billion annually. Australians – are one of the most gambling nations in the world. The state governments are carefully controlled the game play. Australia has 22 land-based casinos and the online casinos rapidly developing.

The largest revenue – are from pokies, and slot machines. In the New South Wales the number of the slot machines is only surpassed by the state of Nevada USA. The Australian state contains more than 95,800 slot machines.

Gambling business in USA

The gambling in the United States is allowed, but only in the Indian reservations and floating establishments. In 2015 the US players spent USD 38.5 billion in the commercial casino. In total 1623 casino operate. The total income of all gambling in the United States was up to USD 71.1 billion. In the market of the country, new modern trends in gambling are successfully developed: Daily Fantasy Sport, bitcoin gambling.

Online gambling business

The online gambling is also growing rapidly. The projected revenues in 2020 will reach USD 53 billion according to the research of the experts H2 Gambling Capital.

The section of the article Gambling in your Country are shown the statistics for different countries. You can read how the things are with the online gambling business, what are the prospects of development of the industry.

Gambling Legislation South Africa

Trends in the development of the industry

The online casinos appeared in 1994. The first live casino was opened in 2003 on the Playtech platform. Now this is a multi-billion dollar industry with a variety of institutions and manufacturers.

Gambling Legislation South Africa Apartheid

Along with the development of the mobile technology, the mobile gaming industry began flourished. Appear new forms of gambling: the social casino, Daily Fantasy Sport, bitcoin gambling. The future of the gambling may be tightly linked to the development of virtual reality.