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Aside from Egypt, South Africa is the second largest ‘gaming market’ on the mainland to date. The main reason for its popularity and continued growth is an increase in mobile gaming, particularly iGaming and esports.

Mobile gaming’s growth stems from a number of internal, triumphant government investments revolving around South Africa’s communication enterprise. This has led to more advanced, accessible coverage and faster internet speeds. On top of this, gaming devices including tablets and smartphones are much more affordable. This is in response to upgrades in technology and the advent of tech giants, who consistently release reasonably priced mobile solutions complete with touch screen features. All this has opened doors to an evolving mobile gaming community.

The iGaming Industry

One mobile gaming market causing quite a stir in terms of revenue and usage is the iGaming sector, which comprises card games, slots and sports betting. In the entirety of Africa, South Africa is home to the largest video game sector. There are numerous online casinos directing their focus towards South African players through a series of attractive promotions and bonuses. Playing online is now equally as popular as visiting land-based casinos, if not more so. This has become more apparent since the arrival of covid-19 and is likely a platform that players will continue to use post-pandemic. 

With so many casinos available on the market, many players use portals like Gamble.xyz to find casinos that suit their own personal preferences. There, you’ll find reviews of over 100 casinos, many of which offer great bonuses and rewards for players. 

The Benefits of Playing Online 

Online casinos give players the option to play anywhere they please, as long as they have access to the Internet and a gaming device. It’s even possible to enjoy games such as baccarat, blackjack poker and roulette via an HD webcam stream, which is often hosted by a ‘real’ dealer in real-time. Players can wager with virtual chips, pre-purchased and deposited into their online account, or in some cases, via cryptocurrency.

The global pandemic has certainly given online gaming an extra boost, especially as a number of physical casinos have had to close their doors for the time being. Even prior to this, online gaming was a popular pastime because of its versatility. Players don’t need to leave their home in order to partake in a number of prevalent gaming titles, with all the action being accessible via the click of a button. To top this, online gaming environments are becoming more realistic by the minute. 

Esports

As well as iGaming, esports betting is another mobile gaming sector growing extensively within South Africa. Over the past year, esports has risen in popularity dramatically across the globe, with this sector being one of the only sporting industries not to have been massively impacted by the pandemic. For PC gamers, this has always been an incredibly popular pastime, but with the advent of mobile gaming, the popularity of esports is growing by the minute, especially Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games. Friends can now join forces, making gameplay more interactive and social. A number of these games offer free-play versions, whilst many boast the option to purchase new style weapons, skins and character enhancements.

It’s not just esports in itself that is growing rapidly. The iGaming industry has capitalised on this, with plenty of sportsbooks offering odds on various esports events

The Future of Online Gaming

The economy in South Africa has revealed an impressive nine consecutive years of growth, with the gaming industry set to grow a further 18% over the next two years, reaching R5,440 million. This is the only year the economy has seen a slight decline due to current issues taking place across the globe. Going forward, this sector is set to evolve even further, just as it has done across the globe, especially as South Africa is now privy to quality mobile connectivity, heightened internet speeds and niche gaming industries.