South Africans are amongst the keenest bettors in the casino world and will soon have even more choices in the iGaming market thanks to the arrival of OnAir Entertainment. OnAir is entering the SA iGaming market due to its interest in casino games. The provider anticipates that doing this will make navigating the region more accessible and forge solid alliances with regional operators focused on South Africa.
History and Current Situation of iGaming in South Africa
The first form of betting legalized in South Africa was horse racing, way back in 1965 when the Gambling Act was passed. In 1996 the National Gambling Act empowered local provinces to permit brick-and-mortar casinos and eSports. At the time of writing, the situation is that players in South Africa can legally only access licensed operators that are regulated and controlled by the NGB and local provinces. Whether the offshore ban will be lifted in the future remains to be seen.
In addition to brick-and-mortar and online casinos, South Africans enjoy other types of iGaming, including horse racing and the lottery. Many South Africans also love to engage in a spot of sports betting and the most popular sports are football, rugby, and cricket (all of which have British roots).
OnAir Entertainment Arrives in South Africa
OnAir Entertainment is one of the highest-quality live casino providers and is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in December 2022. Once formally established, the firm plans to provide South African online casino operators with its live casino products. Ahead of its launch in the country, OnAir Entertainment has laid the foundations for partnerships with multiple major operators to ensure it enjoys a running start. The online casino business is famous for being intensely competitive, and OnAir’s live casino offering will help its partners to achieve an edge over the competition.
Among OnAir Entertainment’s top products are various new takes on classic casino games such as baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. The live content portfolio of the firm includes Lotus Speed Baccarat, Auto Roulette, and Eclipse Blackjack. These have helped to make OnAir Entertainment successful in major online casino markets worldwide, including Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
South African Online Casinos
South Africans already have some fantastic online casinos, and the scene will only improve with the addition of OnAir Entertainment. But like a huge menu at a great restaurant, sometimes it can take time to pick from a long list. Start with the best SA online casinos that are approved by top10casinos.com, as an extra, this list can also assist you in pursuing substantial jackpots, finding the best welcome bonuses and free spins, and enjoying the best slots and table games. The list features some of the top online casinos in South Africa, tested by range of games, exclusive benefits for SA players, prompt payouts, and more. Each one has an excellent array of slots and traditional table games, a wide range of supported banking methods popular in SA, and generous bonuses for newcomers and existing players.
Offshore Casinos Not Permitted
As a major iGaming nation, South African players can frequently access international online casino sites and onshore casinos. Remember that overseas casinos cannot legally be accessed (although prosecutions are rare). Only onshore sites are regulated by the NGB and local provinces. This is unfortunate for South Africans as one of the benefits of playing offshore would be that there is a far wider range of potential places to play and a corresponding increase in available games. Because the United Kingdom is a regulatory and online betting powerhouse backed up by the developing Canadian and American markets, South Africans are well-placed for international betting sites, given their English language skills. If this law is loosened in the future, there will be many places overseas for South Africans to visit.
However, there are many upsides to playing domestically for players in South Africa. ZAR is guaranteed to be supported at home. In contrast, international betting sites usually offer USD, GBP, and EUR. Still, they may not support ZAR, playing domestic avoids the need to keep track of betting sums and any exchange rate effects when depositing or withdrawing. On top of that, some popular South African online banking methods are less commonplace overseas, so offshore sites are less likely to offer means of personal finance, such as Instant EFTs. The biggest drawback, of course, is that overseas casino gaming is currently illegal for South Africans, though the activity still occurs.
iGaming Ages
South Africans are keen casino game players, but the age of legality for playing online casino games and engaging in sports and lottery betting can vary significantly worldwide. In South Africa, the minimum age is 18, which is one of the most common, and an age limit shared by countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Nigeria, and Ghana. In the United States, where regulation is made at the state level, online iGaming is usually permitted at 18 or 21. However, some hardline states, such as Utah and Hawaii, forbid it entirely. It’s important for South Africans on an overseas holiday to be aware of this information to avoid accidentally contravening local laws.
Online casino regulation has been gradually liberalized in South Africa, growing the market and attracting firms such as OnAir Entertainment. At the same time, players have benefited from increased wagering options, though whether offshore casinos will be legally permitted remains to be seen.
