The South African online gambling industry is worth more than $700 million according to research firm Statista. Experts believe the sector can hit $1 billion in value by 2029 based on its present 5.84% annual growth rate.
What’s fueling the growth of online gambling in the country? The short answer is that there’s a growing demand for online casino South Africa sites. In this article, we’ll list the major reasons for this growth. Let’s get started.
Easy Access to Online Casinos
Online casinos are becoming increasingly accessible in South Africa thanks to the spread of smartphones and Internet connectivity. Mzansi is now home to millions of young, tech-savvy men and women interested in online gaming.
Many young casino players seldom visit brick-and-mortar casinos. They prefer to bet on sports or play slots in the comfort of their homes. Luckily, there are dozens of legal casino sites in South Africa.
According to the National Gambling Act of 2004, online casinos can operate in South Africa legally provided they acquire a license from a regulator such as the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.
Each of South Africa’s nine provinces has a licensing board that oversees the licensing and regulation of online casinos. That means casino gaming fans in Mzansi can now play online slots and card games safely using locally licensed online casinos.
Online Bonuses and Promotions
Online casinos can be persuasive. Most of them welcome you with a free bonus to play top games at no cost. Some sites give you free spins to play slots after you create an account. Others match your first deposit 100%.
Bonuses add money to your casino account. If you’re a young person on a low budget, a bonus gives you a reason to play slots and roulette. After all, you’re spending house money.
Some gambling sites are extremely generous. They give you bonuses weekly, usually after you complete a deposit or participate in a tournament. Some promotions, like cashback deals, can help you recoup your losses.
That being said, bonuses aren’t free money. They come with rules and terms you must follow. For example, you need to rollover your bonus 10x to 40x before you can withdraw your bonus winnings. Bonuses also have a time and withdrawal limit. Read these terms before you claim a promotion. Claim bonuses with fair terms.
Related: The Future Of Betting: How New Technologies Are Transforming Online Gambling
Sports Enthusiasm in South Africa
Sports betting is growing rapidly in South Africa. The explanation is that Mzansi has a vibrant community of sports lovers. Soccer, cricket, and rugby are the biggest sports among bettors, followed by boxing, tennis, and basketball.
Because sports betting is legal in South Africa, most people bet at locally licensed sportsbooks. They also have the option to use foreign operators located in Europe.
The Premier Soccer League is South Africa’s favorite league for sports betting. The English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League international tournaments like the World Cup give South Africans more betting opportunities.
The best sportsbooks in South Africa offer hundreds of sports games every day. They also provide different bets, from match winners to accumulators. You can also bet on live games or predict futures.
Real Money Gaming
When you think about it, real money gaming is pretty exciting. If you win, you can double or triple your money. But then there’s also the risk of losing. Most people opt to gamble online in the hopes that they can increase their money.
Fortunately, you don’t need a big budget to play casino games. With a budget of $10, you can access most slots online. Many slot machines have a minimum betting limit of 10 cents.
A bigger budget accords you the opportunity to play more games. It can also help improve your profits. But let’s be honest. Most casino games are based on luck. A big bankroll doesn’t always mean you will win.
In fact, some of the biggest casinos of all time had small budgets. For example, the British man who won over €15M from an online slot in 2015 was playing 10 cents per line before hitting his jackpot.
With that in mind, the best way to enjoy casino games is with money you can afford to lose. So, create a budget for online gambling. Stick to your budget and know when to quit.
A Full Range of Betting Products
Another reason fueling the growth of online gambling in South Africa is the wide variety of betting products in the country. The standard online casino has more than 500 games.
Slots usually dominate the list of games you can play at any casino. They’re also diverse, ranging from progressive jackpots to video slots. Choose slots with high return-to-player rates, bonus features, and interesting storylines.
If you prefer games of skill and strategy, opt for blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat. Some of these games involve high-stakes competitions. For example, the World Series of Poker features hundreds of talented players. The winner walks away with over $1 million.
If you choose a great online casino, you can play table games in a live setting. Live casino gaming means you can see and interact with your opponents. The experience is social and lively. But it can also become extremely competitive.
Fast Digital Payments
Online gambling works in places where people can deposit and withdraw their money smoothly. In South Africa, mobile wallets make it possible to deposit and withdraw money from online casinos stress-free.
There are many ways to deposit money at online gambling sites in South Africa. You can use your Visa or MasterCard, PayPal, Skrill, Bitcoin, or wire transfer. There’s also Zapper, online banking, and FNB Pay.
While there are many ways to deposit money at online casinos in South Africa, each casino is different. Some operators accept Visa and MasterCard but not PayPal and Skrill.
Before you join a gambling site, check its supported payment options. Look at the minimum you can deposit and withdraw. Also, read reviews to ascertain that an operator processes payouts fast.
