Is online gambling in South Africa legal? What are the best casinos in South Africa? When is the next Derby in South Africa? You will get answers to all your questions in this brief but informative guide.
Land-based casinos in South Africa
While land-based casinos weren’t always legal in the country, they comprise a huge part of South Africa’s gambling culture.
Just like in Vegas, the best casinos in South Africa are hotels as well. They’re designed to be an entertainment experience, not just a casino. Visit Sun City Resort, or Montecasino, and you will find fun things to do for the whole family.
You can see bars, shops, thematic parks, and spa complexes near most big casinos. Whether you want to relax on a hot stone massage session or see a show, you can do it in South African casinos.
Apart from the big hotel-casinos that dominate the industry and attract thousands of tourists, there are smaller ones. Typically these are bars with a gambling parlour.
They’re not overcrowded. They’re not top-notch casinos either. They’re a great place to play your favourite slot and grab a meal afterwards.
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Horse race betting in South Africa
Horse race betting is the form of gambling that was a part of South Africa’s history for the longest time. Right up until the 1990s it was one of the few forms of betting that were legal.
Horse race betting has a prolific history. One of the oldest horse racing tracks that are still in operation today is the Greyville Racecourse. It was founded back in 1844 and still gathers up to 50,000 people on a Derby day.
The biggest South African Derby is held annually in Johannesburg. Thanks to online betting, it’s no more a place for the rich to wager. Anyone can place a bet and receive a big win if they pick the right horse.
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Sports betting in South Africa
Sports betting is extremely popular in South Africa. So much so that the love for the UK Premier League can discourage local football clubs.
South Africans come in crowds to bet in dozens of betting shops on the day of a big game. You can bet pretty much on any type of sport, but football is the most popular choice.
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Online gambling in South Africa
Since there is only this much space at a betting parlour, many people prefer to gamble online. There is much more to online gambling than betting, however.
The choice most online gamblers go for is online slots. They’re just as fun as land-based slot machines, but can be played from your mobile phone. The best thing about online slots is that they allow for creative freedoms regular video slots don’t.
If you want to have an experience akin to that of a regular casino, you can choose the live casino option. This means playing a table game with a beautiful woman taking your bets live.
Even though online gambling is not legal in South Africa, it finds a place in the hearts of gamblers. Locals find casinos online using Google, like in this SilverSands casino review, that accept South African players despite the ban. Some are even centered around South Africans as their primary audience and take payments in ZAR.
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The National Lottery
While the National Lottery may not seem as entertaining as playing an online slot, it is by far the most popular type of gambling. Over 70% of people report playing the Lottery at least once during the past year.
The Lottery is run by a private firm, but it’s licensed and governed by the South African authorities.
