Over the last decade, online gambling has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar industry, attracting a whole new demographic who may not have ever set foot in a brick-and-mortar casino. The COVID-19 pandemic has left us finding socially distanced forms of entertainment, and online gaming, including casino games, has grown even more popular, with cutting edge graphics, gameplay and VR capabilities that make great use of the technology of modern mobile devices.
Online casinos are popular the world over but often fall under different laws and regulations depending on which country you’re in. South Africa doesn’t have legal online casinos, so punters have to use offshore options. There are other things to take into account as well, security, payment options and more, which you should investigate before you start playing. Let’s take a closer look.
The legality of online casinos in South Africa
Technically, online casinos in SA are not legal – but like many other places in the world, regulation falls into a grey area. It’s illegal to operate an online casino, but not to play, so keen punters flock to use offshore websites and apps instead. Playing at these online casinos doesn’t carry the risk of prosecution, in fact, fines have only been levelled at operators in the past.
One inconvenience South Africans may experience is that local banks are asked not to permit transactions with offshore casinos. In reality, though, most players use different payment methods such as digital wallets or credit cards to add funds to their casino accounts. Despite the legal grey area, online gambling is extremely popular in South Africa, and countless players sign up to online casinos every day.
Choosing a casino
With so many options out there new players may find the choice of casinos dizzying. The main factor in selecting an online casino to use should be security. Sensitive data and bank details will be handled by an online casino, and this must be within a fully encrypted environment. Recent hacking events have highlighted the importance of good protection.
There are plenty of resources out there that list and review online casinos, which means that you can check the reputation of the place before you commit to playing. If there are complaints about the site you may wish to avoid a certain establishment. Complaints range from questions about data handling and security through to poor customer service and slow payouts. Check the licence of all casinos you’re considering, and lastly – make sure the casino accepts players from the country you’re in.
Promotions, prizes and bonuses
Almost all online casinos worth their salt offer a range of promotions and bonuses to tempt new customers in while rewarding existing players. There are usually bonuses upon signing up – for example, Punt Casino bonus codes on onlinecasinosonline offer South Africans R3,500 + daily bonuses, free spins and cashback options. Online casinos are always promoting new games, regularly offering punters promotional codes or other incentives to play.
Prizes aren’t just limited to cash – many casinos offer a range of prizes from holidays to sports equipment to electronic goods and even cars. Before you choose an online casino to play in, consider these options to find the ones that best suit you.
Range of games
Another factor in choosing an online casino is the range of games. With mobile technology advancing at such a rapid pace game developers have been making the most of the capabilities of our tablets and smartphones. Alongside traditional games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat there are now many exciting and immersive variations on these classics.
Live dealer poker, for example, makes the most of video streaming technology, while virtual reality casinos allow players to move around gaming halls, offering a unique and interactive experience. Slot machines can be found with a variety of themes and use cutting edge graphics to add drama and excitement to the action. Check out the selection of games available before you decide on an online casino.
Payment options
As mentioned before, South African banks are discouraged from allowing offshore casino transactions. But there are plenty of other ways to use your money in online casinos. Pretty much every online casino accepts major credit cards, and most now accept digital wallet solutions such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay. This allows players to keep a close eye on their funds, and not to spend money they don’t have.
Paypal, Neteller and Skrill are other popular options, and many online casinos now accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. One point to remember – if you’re in South Africa, make sure that whatever payment method you choose lists South African Rand as an available currency – otherwise conversion calculations have to be made and you can easily lose track of how much you’re spending.
It’s best to do a bit of preparation before you start to play in online casinos from South Africa. When you’ve done your research and chosen the right place, it’ll leave you free to enjoy the games without any worries.
