South Africa is considered to be quite new to the world of gambling. The act was only legalised in this part of the world in 1994, but that doesn’t mean that the population has refrained from getting involved. The country saw over two thousand casinos open their doors by the end of 1995, but that isn’t the only type of gambling that is permitted in this country. Since then, South Africa has implemented many types of gambling, so let’s look at all the ways that you can legally gamble in the country.
South African Lottery
The government introduced the South African national lottery in 1996, not too long after gambling became legal. This lottery works in the same way that most lotteries work across the globe. A fixed jackpot is set and players must buy a ticket to enter. These tickets cost 5R per ticket, and each one contains six numbers. The player must match at least three numbers to those pulled out in sequence during the live draw to win a prize. A player that matches all six numbers will win the grand jackpot which usually sits in the millions. If no one claims the total jackpot, the sum is rolled over and added to the prize amount in next week’s draw.
Sports Betting
Betting on sports has always provided fans with a way to heighten their enjoyment of the game. South African fans are no different, and they are privy to over three-hundred bookmakers across the country. People are able to bet on the outcome of a football match, horse race, Olympic events and even American sports, such as basketball and the NFL. This act of gambling is perfectly above board, provided the bets are made with a legal betting establishment.
Casinos
There was once a huge following for the brick-and-mortar casinos in South Africa. However, the total number of physical casinos in the country has dropped from a lofty two thousand to a mere forty three licenced buildings.
This has nothing to do with changes to the law. You can still walk into one of these casino and engage in a game of poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and slots. Only now, there is more popular alternative to the brick and mortar casino.
Online Casinos
The digital age has given us many online wonders in the last few years. The mid 2000s provided us with the ability to play casino games online and the gambling community has never looked back. The introduction of the online casino site has given us access to all of our favourite casino games, but now we can play from the comfort of our own home. As long as you have a solid internet connection, you can play any of the games found in a regular casino. There is even a larger variety of casino games available on these sites, and you will never have to fight over a machine again. Just log on, place your bet and start playing. Some people believe that this online version has killed the social aspect of playing casino games. However, more innovations have been made to rectify this.
Live Online Casino Games
The live online casino game takes place on internet lobby with a live host and chatroom. Again, you get to partake in all of the games that you would at a regular casino but now you connect via a webcam instead. These live games are a great solution to the social absence that took hold in the online gambling community, and sites like Play Live Casino strive to make the chatroom as friendly as possible. Play Live Casino will hire the best live hosts possible and offer reliable customer service to screen the chats to make sure everyone is being friendly and courteous of other players. What’s more, these live events can even include popular T.V game shows.
Raffles
One form of gambling that often falls under people’s radar is the charity raffle. These tombola games require the participant to purchase a single ticket or more for the chance to win some prizes. It might sound crazy, but this type of raffle is actually an act of gambling. It is perfectly legal in South Africa, but keep this in mind next time you enter one of these competitions. Even if it is taking place at your child’s school, a charity raffle must adhere to all of the local betting rules set out by the government. This means that your neighbour can’t rig the game, despite what you may have thought.
Summary
There you have all of the forms of legal gambling in South Africa. The country doesn’t differ too much from other places that have legalised gambling, just make sure that you are familiar with the law before you start placing bets. LN
