What is the penalty for online gambling in South Africa? The only exceptions are province-licensed horse racing and online sports betting. Casino sites, individuals, internet service providers and banks that process payments for online gamblers are subject to a fine of R10 million, 10 years of imprisonment or both. History & Future of Gambling in South Africa South Africa has had a strong stance on gambling since the first Gambling Act came into effect in 1965, outlawing all types of wagering except horse races. Over the years, this led to the growth of the underground gambling scene, with thousands of illegal casinos popping up to cater to local player demand. It wasn’t until 1996 that the National Gambling Act was amended to allow gambling to become legal and regulated, including casinos and national lottery. This was when the National Gambling Board was established to oversee the regulations and ensure that gambling sites meet certain criteria. This allowed many lavish casino resorts and hotels to set up business and start offering gambling to locals and tourists. In 2004, further changes were made to the gambling laws in SA, with amendments to include licensing sports betting operators in the region, and outlawing online gambling at casinos. Currently, the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board is the largest issuer of ZA gambling licenses. The country saw more changes in 2008 when the National Gambling Amendment Act was introduced, trying to legalize online gambling at casinos and regulate sites in the sector. However, this has yet to take hold, and currently, only locally licensed land-based casinos are legal to operate. Many locals hope an appeal will eventually allow the 2008 Amendment Act to be put in place, allowing future online casino gaming to become regulated in the country. Despite local laws, there are many offshore internationally licensed gambling platforms that accept ZA customers. These websites are regulated in other regions, and allow locals to sign up to play fun real money games. How We Review the Best Online Gambling Sites Our team of experts review each online gambling platform in detail, conducting thorough research to determine which websites are reliable, and worth signing up to from South Africa in 2023. We’ve outlined the main criteria we use when reviewing the top online gambling sites, so players can understand what to look out for. Licensing & KYC We perform our own KYC on each operator, and research the business behind the platform to determine if they hold an online gambling license, and what region they’re regulated in. This may include gaming licenses from Curacao, Costa Rica, Panama, SA, and other locations. Safety & Security While reviewing these sites, our team looks at various security features to ensure players remain safe gambling online. This includes double checking the site has an encrypted Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection, safe real money payment methods, and fair games and odds payouts. Customer Service & Reputation The best South African gambling sites provide excellent customer support and strive to maintain a good reputation in the industry. These providers offer live chat and messaging services, making it easy for customers to get any questions answered quickly. Variety of Games & Betting Markets To make it to the top of our list, these sites must offer a wide variety of casino games and sports betting markets. We check to ensure websites offer the latest slots and table games from the best software providers, and a wide choice of betting markets for the top global sports events. Bonuses & Promotions Many platforms that offer online gambling real money South Africa services reward their customers with special bonuses and promotions. New sign ups can claim big welcome offers, free spins, bonus bets, cashback, accumulator boosts, and other rewarding deals in 2023. Top South African Online Gambling Casinos In 2023, many ZA players are searching for the best online casino websites to win real money in local Rand currency. International gambling authorities license these online sites, and locals can find a fun selection of games, and many special bonus deals with big rewards. These online casino platforms provide players with the best entertainment and the ability to play bingo, cards, table games, live dealers, online slots, sports betting and other exciting activities. The platforms are safe for customers to use, with the latest secure encrypted connections, and mobile-friendly sites that load fast on smartphone devices.