Online Casinos in South Africa

The Legal Position

Online casino play is prohibited in South Africa, and the prohibition reaches the player. The National Gambling Board answers the question on its own FAQ page: "Is online gambling legal? No. Section 11 of the National Gambling Act states: A person must not engage in or make available an interactive game except as authorised in terms of this Act or any other national law." No interactive-game authorisation exists, so there is no lawful route to playing online casino games from within the Republic.

Online Casino and Online Betting Are Not the Same Thing

This is the point most often got wrong about South Africa. The question immediately after the one above, on the same page, reads: "Is online betting legal? Yes. Online betting is legal with a licensed South African bookmaker." Online sports betting is lawful through a provincially licensed bookmaker; online casino games are not lawful at all. A page that treats a South African online bookmaker licence as evidence that online casino play is permitted has misread the Act. The NGB also states: "Can South Africans gamble overseas? South Africans cannot gamble with international companies from within the Republic."

The Law and Who Licenses What

The National Gambling Act prescribes which modes of gambling are legal. The NGB lists them as "Casinos, Bingo, Betting and Limited Payout Machines", and adds that this is lawful only "IF the gambling operator is licensed by a Provincial Gambling Board in South Africa to provide online betting and IF you are over 18 years". Licensing sits with the Provincial Licensing Authorities, also called Provincial Gambling Boards; the provinces monitor compliance with licence conditions and the National Gambling Board provides compliance oversight nationally. Illegal gambling is reported first to the provincial board, which investigates and, if the operator is found to be illegal, reports it to the South African Police Service.

What Is Available Instead

Online sports betting, with a provincially licensed South African bookmaker. The National Gambling Board answers both questions on the same page: Is online gambling legal? No. and Is online betting legal? Yes. Online betting is legal with a licensed South African bookmaker. The lawful modes it lists are casinos, bingo, betting and limited payout machines, licensed by the Provincial Gambling Boards — and South Africans cannot gamble with international companies from within the Republic.

Responsible Gambling

The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation runs the National Responsible Gambling Programme. The Foundation describes itself as "Established under the National Gambling Regulations of 2004 and operating independently of the gambling industry", and publishes a toll-free counselling line, 0800 006 008, which it describes as "available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering free, confidential counselling, assessment and referral to treatment through our national network of mental health professionals". The National Gambling Board also maintains a self-exclusion register.