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Online Casinos are a growing phenomenon around the world. Casinos are a well-established industry in many countries, but they have increasingly transitioned to online platforms, and governments are trying to understand what to do about this. Some governments see the financial benefits of widespread online casinos within their country. Still, there are many skeptics about what this may create regarding habits amongst their people. But when people want something, they often try to find a way to get it, usually by going through legal gray areas.

One of the places where this is most prominent is South Africa. As a growing economy, South Africa is trying to figure out its next approach to the ever-increasing demand for access to the 10 best online casinos from their citizens.
Below, we will look at the current status of online casinos in South Africa and what changes may be arriving in the coming year.

Current status of online casinos

Regarding the current status of online casinos in South Africa, there is some nuance within the legal landscape. The National Gambling Act was enacted in 2004, which many believe is interpreted to mean online casinos are illegal within the country. However, there is a gray area because the bill does not explicitly mention online casinos. There was an amendment to ban online gambling outright to clear up the confusion in 2008, but it never got the required support. So, with this lack of clarity to avoid any issues, most people view online casinos as illegal, and thus, the industry has not taken prominent roots in the country.

However, this has led to the rise of offshore sites. These sites have given players access to online casinos in other countries. With offshoring platforms not explicitly illegal in South Africa, many platforms and people using the platforms find this to be acceptable. They are utilizing them inside South African borders, but they remain in the grey area of the law, so they believe they are not breaking any rules. This offshore business has been a growing market within the country and continues to grow in sites and revenue.

Also, another caveat within South Africa’s online casino saga is that online sports betting is legal within the country. With the void of online casinos evident within the country, some of these sites have sought to cater to the part of their audience who want that casino experience—by renaming the games and, in some cases, making tweaks within the game.
These sites are giving people access to games that strongly resemble casino games without calling them casino games and making enough difference from the original game that regulators do not come down on them. So, it’s very likely to have a bookmaking site operating more as an online casino than a sports betting site. This bending of the rules has helped to create a thriving sports betting industry as they are the only ones with access to the growing public demand for casino games.

The future of online casinos in South Africa.

The year 2024 is an election year for South Africa. While there is a demand and a growing consensus within the government to provide more clarity and make changes to the bill enacted in 2004, many parties are hesitant to embark on this journey. They do not want to jeopardize their electoral chances by passing a bill that may not resonate with the public.
With that understanding, any significant changes will unlikely occur in 2024. After the election and the dust has settled, the government may look to provide more guidance on its policy toward online casinos. With the growing demand, the government will likely try to legalize online casinos, but until then, many people will utilize offshore and online sports betting platforms.

Conclusion

In South Africa, many accept that online casinos are illegal, but with it not being explicitly mentioned in the law, many sites live in the gray area. They take advantage of online sports betting being legal in the country, and while on paper, they are an online sports betting site. They operate more as an online casino with different names and similar games you would find in an online casino. Also, people are using offshore sites. At the same time, there is a firm understanding that allowing online casinos within the country could have good economic benefits. The prospects for this to change in 2024, however, are limited. There have been attempts to modify the current law, but so far, they have failed. But now it seems more like a matter of when online casinos become legal in South Africa as opposed to if.