There are some very rigorous regulations governing online betting in South Africa. The good news is that it isn’t completely prohibite…
There are some very rigorous regulations governing online betting in South Africa. The good news is that it isn’t completely prohibited, and today, there are tens of betting sites in SA. Some of them are local companies, while others are global household names.
In the past, things were a bit challenging because the National Gambling Act’s requirements and regulations were not always clear.
Legislators attempted to amend the laws in 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2016, but little success came of it.
The good thing is that, currently, South African online sports betting is licensed and regulated by the Western Cape Province, which has Cape Town as its capital.
History of the South African gambling scene
Gambling in SA has been strictly regulated since 1973. Apart from horse racing, the Gambling Act of 1965 barred all types of gambling. Casinos started operating in the Independent zones (homelands) before the end of the 1970s. It’s good to note, though, the majority of native South Africans couldn’t visit these zones back then.
Gambling was allowed when a new democratic administration came into office in 1994. The Gambling Act of 1965 was repealed, and the government passed the National Gambling Act of 1996. Specifically, this Act (the 1996 National Gambling Act)established a framework for casino licensing andnational lotteries.
More so, the Act established uniform criteria for gambling-related activities and provided for their regulation. The National Gambling Board was also established, with the mission of overseeing and regulating the gambling industry.
You may be asking, what about the National Gaming Act of 2004 that outlawed gambling in SA. Well, this law did not extend to online sports betting. In other words, betting on popular sports like football, horse racing, and rugby via an online platform is legal.
What is the current state of sports betting in South Africa?
As mentioned above, online sports betting done via a licensed sportsbook is now legal in SA. This is the only exception to the law. Besides the National Gaming Act of 2004, The National Gambling Board of South Africa, as recent as September 2020, published a statement that made it clear that no online gambling activity is acceptable in the country, save for online sports betting. In addition, you must be 18 years and above to participate in gambling in South Africa.
Bottom line
South Africa is a country that cherishes sports, with citizens devoted to following the fortunes of its national soccer, rugby, and cricket teams. It’s also a country whose citizens are keenly interested in major sporting events going on across the world. Without a doubt, there will always be a strong desire to wager on those events. That’s why the relevant authorities have gone ahead to enact gambling-friendly laws to govern this growing industry.
