Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Africa?
An intermingled attitude towards online gambling has been adopted by South Africa. In the year 2004, a federal law dubbed as the National Gambling Act made all games within the wider industry illegal. This incorporated the provision of games and their actual play. The situation was reaffirmed in 2010 when a High Court ruling concluded that any game provided by offshore companies were also illegal.
This ban does not include wagering on horse racing or online sportsbooks. Betting online is allowed in several firms, whether domestic or foreign and it’s within the law. Gambling and racing boards of the nine provinces are responsible for granting all online permits in South Africa, with that of Western Cape Gambling and Racing board being the largest.
Horse Racing in South Africa
Horse racing was the only legal form of betting in South Africa from 1965. Even now, wealthy South Africans go to Johannesburg and Durban for big races like the Summer Cup and the Durban July, which are held at ten major tracks around South Africa. Other forms of gambling were not allowed by law except underground ones in South Africa.
This happened in 1994, when the first post-apartheid government was elected and voted to legalize all forms of betting activities. It started on the second day of March, 2000 with the first lottery draw being done then followed by sports betting and other related activities in 2004. Nowadays there are hundreds of betting shops in South Africa and many more outlets offering pari-mutuel betting.
Horse racing is the second largest market, behind football betting. Additionally, virtual sports saw a significant boom in 2020 when traditional sporting activities were halted because of COVID.
Only Sports Betting is Legal
No, it’s not true that sports betting in South Africa is illegal. Contrarily, numerous forms of gambling are outlawed except for sports betting which has no limitations like rugby betting as well as cricket betting.
The National Gaming Board clarified the controversy surrounding some South African casino games and made it clear as crystal that sports betting is completely legal. It was quoted saying: “The NGB wishes to make it emphatically clear that the answer to whether online or interactive gambling is legal in South Africa, is a simple and unequivocal NO with the exception of online sports betting.”
The Best Sports Betting Apps for South Africans
A huge number of players in South Africa prefer to bet online these days and this is a modern trend. Due to the fact that only sport gambling is allowed with most people placing their in-play bets on mobile phones, it makes the statement true.
The Android has the more accepted product for mobile betting with nearly 90% of the customer base, so if you’re an Android user this puts you at a head start. If you are a regular visitor to the same website, it might be prudent to download a sports betting app.
However, if you fancy not having any apps on your phone, you can still access the same sites through your mobile browser. For the most part, South African betting sites have made their websites compatible with mobile devices so that when one uses his phone or tablet to visit them, they adjusts themselves to enable smooth navigation.
Taxation for South African Sports Bettors
It is as of May 2012 that winnings from betting for leisure are not liable to income tax, the safest thing always being to disclose winnings to SARS as non-taxable income. However, if you are a professional gambler, depending on whether gambling is your main source of livelihood or not, you will be taxed. But generally, you won’t have to pay taxes on any money won in gambling
Bettors are subject to a tax rate of 6% value added tax (VAT) cut off on all horse racing winnings.
The Future of Sports Betting in South Africa
The Act of 2008 attempted the creation of lawful internet betting in South Africa besides encountering opposition from anti-gambling organizations and physical casinos. Furthermore, Sports gambling is allowed in South Africa as per the National Gambling Board.
As long as sports betting is legal, the country’s gambling laws dictate which companies can advertise because many international sites have interests in casino and poker. The online landscape in South Africa may change during the amendment’s passage through different legal stages, which could affect online sportsbooks.
This now seems unlikely and far away, which allows for the online sports betting industry in South Africa to develop. If you are only concentrating on online sports betting in South Africa and not casino games, then you’ve got it made.
What’s the best betting site in South Africa? In South Africa, there are many websites that offer exciting moments for sport gambling. This page will help you find the best of them. These ratings or reviews have been evaluated by ourselves and only the most all-round, dependable ones are included on this list.
What’s the best football betting site? The most popular form of gambling on sports in South Africa is football betting, so if you join any site for this purpose, there will be many betting opportunities available to you. You can find the South African bets sites with plenty of markets and odds among our top picks on this page.
Can I get free bets in South Africa? If you sign up with our approved betting websites in South Africa, as a member, you will receive several opportunities to earn free bets. Also, you may qualify for free bets as long as you are an existing client of the site or by signing up for one.
Q.Is bet365 available in South Africa? B.Yes, bet365 is fully accessible in South Africa. If you choose to join us, you will be able to select from a large number of pre-match and in-play markets.