First Casino In South Africa

Gambling has been a restricted activity in South Africa ever since 1673, but the Gambling Act, which was passed into law in 1965, banned all varieties of gambling except horse racing in South Africa. However, this did not stop illegal casinos from cropping up all over South Africa. Finally, South Africa legalized gambling in 1994. Wins as big as our African Elephants. And choices as breathtaking as Chapman’s Peak Drive. With a solid 18 years of experience, the service, reliability and trust factors are in place, and so you will find that ZAR is not derived from biZARre, but in honour of Mzansi. The best online casino in South Africa.

Most gamblers in the United States haven’t considered the
Republic of South Africa, but it’s a gambling hotspot. This
multi-ethnic nation has a dozen official languages, more than
3,000 miles of coastline, and a robust economy that’s ranked in
the top thirty in the world, on par with Denmark and oil-rich
Venezuela. But its remote location (the country is closer to
Antarctica than any other developed nation) means its casinos
aren’t exactly drawing the same kind of tourist attention as
Macau, Las Vegas, or Monaco.

Visiting casinos in South Africa is easy as long as you’re 18 and not intoxicated. Every province of the Republic
of South Africa is home to at least one state-regulated gaming venue. But you’ll also find dozens more race
tracks, sportsbook kiosks, and OTB sites in each province, too. Lottery sales are growing each year, and they’re
among the highest per capita in the world. South Africa is also home to some of the most liberal gambling
laws in the world.

We like to cover gambling destinations in detail. We’ve put together a complete guide to visiting the casinos of
the Republic of South Africa, featuring the following sections. You can scroll the page to see them all, or use
the following buttons to jump straight to a section that interests you.

The Top Casinos and Hotels in South Africa

In our destination-specific articles, we like to list two or three properties in each of three common categories:

• Budget
• Mid Range
• Luxury

But South Africa is a small country compared to the areas we review in those other pages, so it has fewer
accommodations to review. Instead of our usual listings, we’ve picked one property to cover in detail for each
category. As for reviews of casinos – we cover a lot more gambling venues in the country at the end of this
page.

Here are our three recommendations for casino resorts in South Africa.

Best Luxury Hotel and Casino in South Africa

The Cascades Hotel

The Cascades is a five-star casino resort in the middle of
Pilanesberg National Park. Since this luxury destination was built,
Sun City has become the go-to vacation destination for the entire
Republic.

The attached Sun City Casino is open 24 hours a day. The 50,000
square foot casino floor was refurbished in 2013. That effort increased the number of slot machines and
video poker games to over 1000. It also made space for more table games. You can play all the
Western-style table classics you want spread across 43 tables.

The loyalty club at The Cascades is called MVG. When you join, you’ll get instant access to a private lounge
and VIP gaming room. There, you’ll find high-roller slots, tables, and a private poker room.

The boutique hotel has large rooms. There are only 243 guestrooms on this massive property. Each has a
kitchenette, private balcony with a view of the forest, and bathrooms with whirlpool tubs. As an added
bonus, the hotel will have any of three-dozen world newspapers delivered to your room each morning

Outside of the casino, The Cascades offers a nightclub and a full service spa and health club with a 24-hour
gym and pool complex. 24-hour concierge service is free, as is childcare. Older children can spend time in
a large supervised arcade and gaming complex.

The Cascades offers dozens of restaurants and bars, including:

• The Brew Monkey
• Food Factory
• Harvest Grill & Wine
• The Palm Terrace
• The Sun Terrace
• The Raj
• Plume
• The Grill Room

There are several other eateries and watering holes too.

Key Information
Address: Sun City Resort, Pilanesberg, Sun City, North West Province, South Africa
Phone number: +27 14 557 5840
http://ww.suninternational.com/sun-city/cascades/

How To Start A Casino In South Africa

Best Mid Range Hotel and Casino in South Africa

City Lodge

For groups interested in high-end service without the hefty
price tag of The Cascades, South Africa is a great vacation spot.
Mid-range hotels are the norm. By far the biggest and best-reviewed
of them all is City Lodge Hotel GrandWest. Average room prices here
hover around $90 USD a night. That’s less than half what you’ll spend
during the tourist season at The Cascades.

City Lodge Hotel GrandWest is home to one of the largest South African casinos, a 120,000 square foot
space that’s home to more table games (seventy-eight) than any other casino in Africa. More than 2500 slot
and video poker games are also available in banks near the back of the space, past the table games and
poker room. The poker room is one of the most-celebrated in all of the Republic. Ten tables are kept open
around the clock, with the focus of play on Texas holdem and Omaha.

Though the GrandWest is a large property, it has few hotel rooms. Only 176 rooms are available, and those
are usually booked a few months in advance. Every room has a whirlpool tub or separate bath and shower.
Many rooms have views overlooking the city of Cape Town. City Lodge Hotel is more family-friendly than
most South African casino resorts. The outdoor pool is a family favorite.

We mentioned above that City Lodge Hotel GrandWest is a big property, and the number of restaurants
and bars on-site is a testament to that. Between the convention center, casino, and resort hotel, the list of
restaurants is staggering.

Here’s a list of places where you can grab a bite to eat at City Lodge Hotel:

• Beijing Orchid
• Squires Grill & Chophouse at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World
• Union Castle Club
• Cape Town Fish Market at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World
• Quarterdeck Restaurant
• Silver Dollar Spur at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World
• Bukhara
• Bella Gina
• The Coffee Shop
• Food Court at GrandWest Casino
• Alibama Sports Bar
• Hanover Street
• Jackson Hall

Key Information
Address: Jakes Gerwel Drive, Cape Town, South Africa
Phone number: +27 21 535 3611
https://clhg.com/hotels/125/City-Lodge-Hotel-GrandWest

Best Budget Hotel and Casino in South Africa

How Many Casinos Are In South Africa

Emerald Resort & Casino

We recommend that visitors to South Africa who want to save
money stay at Emerald Resort & Casino. Average room rates often
dip below $70 USD per night, but you’ll still enjoy some of the
amenities of staying at a fancier resort property like the ones listed
above.

As for gambling–you get what you pay for. This is one of South Africa’s smaller casino floors, around 32,000
square feet. It may be on the small side, but the property stuffs a lot of games into that small space – 21
table games, more than 600 gaming machines, and a poker room with up to 6 tables playing at once. You
won’t find a VIP room at Emerald Casino. Regional law limits wagers to no more than $1000 per round of
any game.

The hotel itself is nicer than you may imagine. The style is Kenyan-chic, with thatched furniture and walls,
beautiful slate floors, and plenty of old-world African art and artifacts. Believe it or not, you can reserve
luxury suites and conference facilities at this budget property. They cost more than the standard fare, so
check with the front desk before booking.

If you’re feeling adventurous, this resort includes a special River Resort facility, where you can take a
mini-safari or river cruise. You can also rent big Safari Lodges for group or family trips, or try their newest
amenity called “Liquid Living.” This program lets you rent and stay on houseboats along the Vaal River.

Key Information
Address: 777 Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Phone number: +27 16 982 8000
http://ww.emeraldcasino.co.za/

Non-Gambling Activities in South Africa

We like to cover non-gambling activities in every region that we write about. We do that because we know that
most people don’t spend an entire trip in a casino. We know some of our readers travel with families and kids.
In short, we’re realistic. You’re going to want to see part of South Africa at some point.

The good news is that South Africa is full of culture, nightlife, and amazing food. It’s easy to stay entertained in
the country if you choose not to gamble. But before you pick some activities not related to betting, we
recommend that you consider a few factors that might affect your choice. Think about your budget, how much
time you have, what the weather is like during your visit, and anything else you can think of that might affect
what you do.

Many of the options below are high-energy outdoor activities. That’s just the nature of South Africa. Obviously,
you have to consider your physical abilities before you jump into a shark cage or zip line over a jungle canopy.

Here are our choices for the top non-gambling activities in South Africa.

Enjoy an eco-tour in St. Lucia with Zulu Birding

Zulu Birding was started by a small group of Zulu tribesman with the traditional
training necessary to guide hunting expeditions. Instead of guiding hunters to kill the wildlife, Zulu Birding
runs eco-tours, showing off the beautiful flora and fauna of South Africa without harming it. If a rugged
eco-tour isn’t your speed, you can book birding expeditions of various lengths to see some of the rare
birds of southern Africa.

Key Information
Address: Mackenzie Street, P.O.Box 229, St Lucia 3936, South Africa
Phone number: +27 71 4133243
http://zulubirding.jimdo.com/

Go on safari in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve

You can barely throw a pebble in South Africa without hitting a safari company.

Why choose the Hluhluwe Game Reserve?

It’s the oldest such property in South Africa, and it was the first to be recognized by the government as
ecologically-friendly. South Africa offers a unique opportunity to see a range of exotic wildlife. While on this
trip, you may see rhinos, lions, hyena, Cape buffalo, leopards, and many other classic safari animals.

Key Information
Address:
Phone number: +27 35 5901555
http://zulubirding.jimdo.com/

Take a river cruise with Knysna Charters

South Africa’s rivers are gorgeous. Ever better, they’re relatively-peaceful. Our
choice of location for a perfect South African cruise is the salt water sanctuary of Knysna. This is a winding
river featuring untouched lagoons and a must-photograph rocky cliff formation at the mouth of a jungle
river. If you book the right cruise, you can linger in the lagoon for a swimming break and visit the attached
nature reserve on the same trip, spending an entire day in Knysna.

Key Information
Address: Thesens Island, Knysna, 6570, South Africa
Phone number: +27 82 892 0469
http://www.knysnacharters.com/

Have a sky adventure at Ballito Microlight
School in Durban

Ultralight aviation (called “microlight” in South Africa) is a major pastime in this part of the world due to
relaxed regulations and favorable weather conditions. Microlight is so popular in Durban that it’s also
relatively inexpensive. You can have a couples’ microlight experience for less than the price of a fancy
dinner. Ballito Microlight School is the oldest-operating and best-reviewed provider of this type of aviation
in Durban.

Key Information
Address: 100 Esenembi Rd, KwaDukuza, South Africa
Phone number: +27 82 659 5550
http://www.skyadventures.co.za/

Tour the Cango Caves

The Cango Caves are four kilometers of Precambrian limestone caves which are
difficult enough to require a guide for every visitor. The Cango Caves is one of SA’s most-visited landmarks–
and one of its most photogenic. While you’re there, sign up for an ostrich ride at the Cango Ostrich Farm. If
you weigh less than 150 pounds, that is. This side-trip is great for the kids, and while it’s a bit expensive
(equivalent to $100 US per ride), when else are they going to have a chance to ride an ostrich?

Key Information
Address: Scenic Cape Route 62, Oudtshoorn, 6620, South Africa
Phone number: +27 44 272 7410
http://www.cango-caves.co.za/

Go cage-diving with Great Whites at White Shark Projects in Gansbaai

White Shark Projects is a group dedicated to the preservation of South Africa’s native White Shark species.
Their major source of revenue for these efforts is underwater adventures, like the infamous shark cage dive.
They sell videos, do educational tours, and host fundraiser events as well, but let’s face it – the shark cage
is by far the coolest part of their lineup. At $45 per person for their shortest cage experience (twenty
minutes per person in the cage), it’s one of the most affordable extreme wildlife experiences you can have
in-country.

Key Information
Address: 16 Geelbek St, Gansbaai, South Africa
Phone number: +27 21 405 4537
http://www.whitesharkprojects.co.za/

Stroll along Cape Town’s Historic Waterfront.

The Victoria and Albert Waterfront stretches across most of Capt Town’s coastline,
offering views of the Atlantic Ocean, Table Bay Harbour, the City of Cape Town, and distant Table Mountain.
You can do a number of things here–shop, eat, play on the beach, hear live music, watch people as they
walk by. The V&A Waterfront is a can’t-miss tourist stop. We think you should plan to spend at least half a
day here.

Key Information
Address: —
Phone number: +27 (0)21 408 7600
http://www.waterfront.co.za/

Watch penguins at Boulder’s Beach in Simon’s Town

Boulder’s Beach is exactly what the name implies–a sheltered beach that exists in the inlets between giant
boulders in Simon’s Town, South Africa. Located on the Cape Peninsula, just outside Simon’s Town proper,
Boulder’s Beach became a popular tourist spot when it was discovered that a colony of African penguins
settled there sometime in 1982. Technically, this spot is inside the Table Mountain National Park, which
means you won’t pay to park or visit. Bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

Key Information
Address: 1 Kleintuin Road, Simon’s Town, Cape Town, 7995, South Africa
Phone number: +27 21 786 2329
http://www.sanparks.co.za/gallery/parks/table_mountain/Landscape_zzz_copy

Take photos at the end of the world on the
Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is at the extreme southernmost tip of Africa.The tip of the Cape Peninsula has
been declared a protected wildlife reserve with picnic spots and walks.

Key Information
Address: Cape Point Rd, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Phone number: +27 21 780 9526
http://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/

Tour the Apartheid Museum

Opened in 2001 as part of the Gold Reef City Casino complex, the Apartheid Museum
is actually a complex of museums and galleries in Johannesburg, South Africa. The space is dedicated to
illustrating the impact of apartheid and to chronicling the entire history of 20th century South Africa.

Key Information
Address: Northern Park Way and Gold Reef Rd, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa
Phone number: +27 11 309 4700
http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/

The History of Gambling in South Africa

Gambling in South Africa is widely available. Many forms of legal bets are available to citizens and visitors to
the country. This hasn’t always been the case. Regulated gaming in the country is only available thanks to three
major gaming law reform bills passed over the past two decades.

A colonial Dutch government first banned gambling in present-day South Africa in 1673. Dutch authorities
were so far outnumbered in the territory, the law couldn’t possibly have been enforced. Legally, it only applied
to settlements with a Dutch population, anyway. Still, the tradition held on through centuries of Dutch and
British occupation and rule.

South African colonization gave way to control by the fascist National Party, a group that reinforced the
traditional ban on betting with the Gambling Act of 1965. This law officially banned all forms of gambling in the
country. Horse racing continued and was extremely popular; the National Party considered it a sporting event
and not a game of chance.

South Africans continued to gamble in spite of the ban. Throughout the 1970s, traditional homeland
settlements of native South Africans (called “bantustans” in the native language) were granted some degree of
independence from colonial or even national governments. Settlements like Ciskei, Venda, and Transkei were
home to technically-illegal casinos, card rooms, and game parlors. This tradition continued in part because of
the government’s Apartheid policy, which meant only native South Africans had any access to these bootleg
gaming venues.

According to Stephen P. Rule, a gaming researcher from South Africa, 2000 or more of these illegal casinos
were operating by 1995.

How did a country move from totally-restricted gambling to a nearly totally decriminalized system?

Big changes in politics in South Africa led to big changes in policy. A new democratic government was elected
in 1994, and new President Nelson Mandela legalized all forms of gaming. By 1996, the new government
issued its first National Gambling Act, which created a regulated system of casino licensing, outlined the rules
for sports betting and lottery games, and redefined horse racing as gambling, regulating it like sports betting

South Africa’s National Gambling Act of 1996 is one of the most progressive gaming regulation overhauls in
world history. Gambling has been outlawed in this part of the world since the 17th century. Games like roulette
and blackjack had been illegal since the time of the Black Plague. Overnight, they were available, and
provisions for their operation were created.

This act defined various terms related to gambling, made provisions for 40 casino licenses, outlined how they
should be distributed among South Africa’s provinces, and created a taxation and liability system so that
betting would be a boon for the country’s fledgling economy. The 1996 Act also created South Africa’s National
Gambling Board. They’re the regulatory and enforcement arm of the country’s casino and gaming entities.
South Africans gained access to legal casinos, a nationwide lottery, sports and race bets, and a regulated
market to control them all.

Two more major acts related to the legality of gambling in South Africa have been passed since 1996:

• The 2004 National Gambling Act
• he 2008 National Gambling Act

The 2004 National Gambling Act

This made some changes to definitions, including notes on Web-based betting and the addition of two new
casino licenses. The National Gambling Board legalized online gambling, but only at a list of 10 state-regulated
websites aimed at South African citizens. Some penalties related to gaming crimes were increased.

The 2008 National Gambling Act

Thisadded another casino license, bringing the country’s total to 43. It made minor changes to definitions,
essentially refining the scope of the country’s new online gambling regulations. No new penalty increases were
included in this amendment of South Africa’s gambling regulations. It was mostly a line-item amendment.

South Africans have a new love of regulated gambling. These days, the most popular form of gambling in the
country is the lottery. According to the National Gambling Board, 96% of South Africans of legal age buy at
least one lottery ticket each year. The next most-popular game is slots, with 30% participation. Race and sports
betting come in third, with 11% of South Africans wagering on a sporting event or horse or dog race each year.

South African Casino Directory

43 casinos are licensed by the Republic of South Africa. The majority of them are clustered around the major
cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Durban. These venues vary from large Vegas-style
resort complexes to small racinos in former native settlements.

Here’s a guide to a selection of major South African casinos.

Goldfields Casino

Goldfields Casino is a large casino and entertainment complex featuring a
nine-hole golf course, five themed restaurants, and a 50,000 square foot
casino. This is one of the older properties in the Republic, having been built
on the site of a formerly illegal gaming venue in a settlement community.

Key Information
Address: Corner of Buiten Street and State Way Sunland Plaza, Welkom, South Africa
Phone number: +27 57 391 5700
http://www.goldfieldscasino.co.za/

Garden Route Casino

This 60,000 square foot casino and golf course on South Africa’s southern
coast was renovated in 2011 to offer more table games, a poker room, and
a couple of new restaurants. The Garden Route has the distinction of being
the southernmost casino in Africa.

Key Information
Address: 1 Pinnacle Point Road PO Box 1663, Mosselbay, South Africa
Phone number: +27 44 606 7777
http://www.gardenroutecasino.co.za/

Suncity Casino Resort at The Cascades Hotel

This is the ultimate South African casino resort. Not only can you
gamble in one of the largest casinos in Africa, but you’re literally
minutes from tons of upscale and casual activities and restaurants, a
happening nightlife, two world-class golf courses, and a waterpark.

Key Information
Address: Sun City Resort, R556, North West Province, Sun City, South Africa
Phone number: +27 14 557 5110
http://www.suninternational.com/sun-city/

MonteCasino

Located in the upscale Four Ways section of J-burg, MonteCasino is a
modern facility with the bright lights and modern design of a boutique
hotel in Las Vegas. If you’re looking for American-style gaming, we’re
pretty sure MonteCasino is the only casino offering things like American roulette, keno, bingo, and the like.

Key Information
Address: Private Bag X118, Johannesburg, South Africa
Phone number: +27 11 510 7000
http://www.montecasino.co.za/

GrandWest Casino & Entertainment
World at City Lodge GrandWest

City Lodge Hotel GrandWest is home to one of the largest South African
casinos, a 120,000 square foot space that’s home to more table
games (78) than any other casino in Africa. More than 2500 slot and video
poker games are also available in banks near the back of the space past the
table games and poker room. The poker room is one of the most celebrated in all of the Republic. 10 tables
are kept open around the clock. Most of the tables spread Texas holdem, although you’ll also find Omaha
and some other variants occasionally being dealt.

Key Information
Address: 1 Vanguard Drive, Goodwood, Cape Town, South Africa
Phone number: +27 21 505 7777
http://www.suninternational.com/grandwest/

Gold Reef City Casino

Gold Reef City Casino is more of an entertainment complex than a
gambling hall. An indoor theme park, including a small water park and
slides, is the real focus, with the attached casino thrown in for adult
entertainment. Still, the gambling space is large, and all the classic South
African electronic games are represented. Just don’t expect much in the way of tables.

Key Information
Address: Private Bag 1998, Johannesburg, South Africa
Phone number: +27 11 248 6800
http://www.goldreefcity.co.za/

Graceland Hotel Casino Country
Club at Peermont Walmont

Graceland is a country club with an average-sized South African
casino attached. The floor is only 10,000 square feet or so, but most of
that room is set aside for poker and tables. Graceland is aimed at VIPs
and big spenders.

Key Information
Address: 2302 Embalenhle Road, Secunda, South Africa
Phone number: +27 17 620 1000
http://www.graceland.co.za/

Khoroni Casino Resort

Khoroni is our pick for the best remote gambling venue. You have to
travel pretty far into the bush to get here. The casino itself is small–5000
square feet, just enough for a dozen gaming tables and a few hundred
slot and video poker machines.

Key Information
Address: Mphephu Street, Thohoyandou, Thohoyandou, South Africa
Phone number: +27 (0)15 962 4600
http://www.khoroni.co.za/

Naledi Sun Casino & Hotel

Naledi Sun is another remote South African resort with a small casino
inside. Naledi is a boutique hotel, featuring just four dozen guest
cabins spread out across a large jungle environment. The casino is set
aside for electronic gaming machines only.

Key Information
Address: 3 Bridge Street, Thaba Nchu, South Africa
Phone number: +27 51 875 1060
http://www.suninternational.com/naledi-sun/

Casino Gambling in South Africa: Our View

We had so much fun putting this together that we’re considering a group vacation to Johannesburg. If you’re
planning a trip to South Africa for casino gambling, you can trust the information in the above guide, since it’s
as up to date as we could get it and written by fellow bettors.

South Africa has a rich tradition to absorb, with an amazing history to boot. Yes, the country is saturated with
gaming options, and South Africans themselves love gambling, but the nation has a vibrant culture that isn’t
to be missed. Okay, so South Africa isn’t the first entry on most people’s list of places to travel to for gambling,
but it is something of a hotspot for gaming in a part of the world not known for such a thing.

It’s clear that state-regulated gaming has been good for the country. Revenue from casinos, lottery sales,
sportsbooks, and the other legal markets has supported the nation through a tumultuous recovery from
decades of oppression. As legislators consider relaxing the existing laws even further, South Africa is a leader
in the steady worldwide march toward progressive gaming regulations.

Gambling in South Africa has been heavily restricted since 1673, with South Africa's Gambling Act of 1965 officially banning all forms of gambling except betting on horse racing which existed as a sporting activity.

In the late 1970s casinos started operating in the bantustans (the nominally independent areas called homelands) of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei and Venda. Only native South Africans lived there and most citizens couldn't access those gaming establishments. By 1995 an estimated 2000 illegal casinos were believed to be operating within the country. In 1994, when the new democratic government came to power, all forms of gambling were legalised. In 1996 the National Gambling Act instituted a system of licensed casinos and a single national lottery. Horse racing was also proclaimed gambling activity.^[1]

The National Gambling Act of 1996 made provisions for the regulation of gambling activities and promotion of uniform norms and standards in relation to gambling throughout the country. It gave definitions to different gambling notions, described how the 40 gambling licenses should be distributed among the provinces and provided information on liability. It also established the National Gambling Board, an organisation responsible for the supervision and regulation of the gambling industry. This change in legislation saw the establishment of legal casinos, a national lottery and other forms of gaming.^[2]

In 2004, another National Gambling Act repealed the Act of 1996. And in 2008 The National Gambling Amendment Act was introduced.

Prevalence and value[edit]

According to the 2006 study the most popular forms of gambling in South Africa were the National Lottery (96.9% participation), slot machines (27.7% participation), scratchcards (22.7% participation), charity jackpot competitions (11.6% participation) and horse racing betting (11.5% participation). 8.3% of respondents said they have never gambled and a further 5.5% characterised themselves as occasional game players with no regular forms of gambling.^[3]

In the 2006/2007 financial year licensed gross gambling revenue as monitored by the National Gambling Board totalled R13.52 billion, from R11.4 billion the previous year. 86.2 percent of that revenue was derived in casinos.^[4] In the same period the Board reported a total of 455 raids on and closures of presumed illegal gambling operations.^[5]

South Africa’s gambling revenues are projected to rise to R30 billion in 2019, according to a new report. The South African gambling industry – including casinos, sports betting, the National Lottery, limited payout machines and bingo – achieved gross gambling revenue of R26.3bn in 2016.

Types of gambling[edit]

South African National Lottery[edit]

The South African National Lottery was established in 2000 and has been in continuous operation since, apart from a suspension between April 2007 and October 2007. In its last year of operation transaction values totalled R3.972 billion, with an average of five million transactions per week, making it the most popular form of gambling in South Africa. South Africa known as one of the largest countries participate in UK49s lottery draw operated by Ladbrokes Coral.

Gambling revenue from the National Lottery is projected to increase to R2.33 billion in 2019.^[6]

Casinos[edit]

Casinos operate in all metropolitan areas in South Africa. With the largest being the Rio Casino Resort, which is also the largest casino in Africa and the fifth-largest casino in the world.^{[citation needed]} Tsogo Sun Montecasino, also located in Johannesburg, is another of South Africa's largest casinos.

Horse racing[edit]

On-track betting on horse races was the only legal form of gambling in South African until 1996. Due to its complexity and the difficulty of attracting new players it did not effectively compete with the newly introduced National Lottery and casino games.^[7]

Betting on horse races is controlled by Saftote and operated by Gold Circle in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape and by Phumelela in the remainder of the country.^[8]

Online gambling[edit]

Licensed gambling sites[edit]

Each of South Africa's nine provinces has a gambling and racing board. To offer online betting bookies must be licensed by one of these boards. Currently the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB) is largest provider of online bookmaker licenses.^[9] South Africa residents can use these online betting sites legally. For bets involving horse racing 6% is deducted from winning to cover VAT. As of May 2012, no additional tax is charged to recreational bettors, and recreational gambling winnings are not considered income for income tax purposes.^[10]

Online gaming laws[edit]

The National Gambling Act 2004 prohibited both offering interactive gambling services and engaging in interactive games (games on the Internet).^[11] This rule applies to all online operators, licensed in any jurisdiction. It's however important to note interactive gambling relates specifically to games such as casino, poker and bingo. Online sports betting, online horse race betting and the business of bookmaking is lawful in South Africa, provided that the person conducting such business holds the necessary provincial bookmaker's licence(s), or is using a website with proper licence(s).

The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 that was published in July 2008 was meant to be an attempt to legalise interactive gambling in the country and make provisions for the regulation of this market. The Amendment Act was actively confronted by the interested parties (land-based gambling houses and anti-money laundering authorities). For this reason, the Act hasn't come into power yet.

On 20 August 2010 even online gambling offered through servers located outside the country was banned in South Africa. This was the result of the North Gauteng High Court judgement on the jurisdiction of online gambling transactions in the country. Consequently, both offering gambling services online and gambling online became illegal. The only exceptions are province licensed horse racing and online sports betting. Casino sites, individuals, internet service providers and banks that process payments for online gamblers are subject to a fine of R 10 million or 10 years of imprisonment, or both. Mass media channels that transmit or facilitate advertisement of online gambling services (TV and radio, newspapers and magazines, outdoor advertising agencies) are also to be held liable.^[12]

The South African Department of Trade and Industry also suggested to consider penny auctions a type of online gambling and illegalise them. The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 may come into force after an appeal to a high court ruling against 'interactive gambling' is heard.^[13]

References[edit]

1. ^Stephen P. Rule; Terezinha Da Silva; Chris Sibanyoni (2000). The Social Impact of Gambling in South Africa. HSRC Press. p. 8. ISBN0-7969-1971-2.
2. ^National Gambling Act, 1996 [No. 33 of 1996] – G 17307
3. ^'Problem Gambling Prevalence Study 2006'(PDF). National Responsible Gambling Programme. Archived from the original(PDF) on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
4. ^'National gambling statistics for the financial year ending 31 March 2007'. National Gambling Board. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
5. ^'Illegal Gambling statistics for the financial year ending 31 March 2006'. National Gambling Board. Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
6. ^'How much is the South African gambling market worth?'. www.bettinggods.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
7. ^'Speech by Thibedi Majake (CEO of the National Gambling Board) at the 2006 national convention of Racing South Africa'. Racing South Africa. Retrieved 22 September 2008.^{[dead link]}
8. ^'Sport: Horse racing in South Africa'. SouthAfrica.info. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
9. ^WCGRB Licensed Betting Sites
10. ^Legal South Africa Betting Sites
11. ^'Online Gambling Remains Unlawful in South Africa'. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
12. ^Online Gambling Banned in Africa
13. ^Online Gambling in SA: Is It Legal?

External links[edit]