With over 59 million people living in South Africa, there are going to be a few people who like playing online poker. However, with a rich and varied cultural makeup in the nation, how does online poker fit and work in the country? We explore the legislation, preferences, and technology that shape the best online poker site in South Africa.
South Africans have so many options just now as new sites continue to pop up, but it’s worth noting that betonline has been crowned as the best online poker site so it’s worth paying attention to established names.
The Legality of Online Poker in South Africa
South Africa’s stance on online poker is very unclear and muddled at best. The National Gambling Act of 2004 is to date the only piece of legislation which mentions online gambling (however it’s referred to as ‘interactive gambling’). While an amendment was made in 2008 to try to outlaw online gambling including poker and the government promised to clamp down on sites and players with punishments in 2010, the bark was much bigger than the bite. Online gambling remained to live in a hazy sphere where it’s played but it’s uncertain what the official stance is as the government says one thing but then practices another. Online poker sites, therefore, operate in the country as none have faced severe punishment to date.
In 2023, the discussion was again brought up about whether the current legislation and regulation were good enough for online poker. As of August of the same year, no firm decisions have been made but it is being conversated in government.
South African Poker Player Preferences
It has been noted that South African online poker players really enjoy games when out and about. Casual hands of poker on their mobile device are preferred to drawn-out sessions on a laptop. Many websites offering advice on playing online poker in South Africa completely omit the laptop and computer device type as it is simply not that popular.
A lot of players in South Africa prefer to play on a well-established international site with a decent reputation. This is because they are seen as trustworthy and less likely to be shut down as they are based outside of the country. Furthermore, it is believed that gambling with an international company will have less chance of being punished, as these overseas operators are less likely to share customer information with the local authorities.
Most Popular Online Poker Sites in South Africa
PokerStars is one of the most populated sites with a lot of global traffic, making it superior to a lot of domestic websites which simply can’t compete. Bet 365 is also a very popular site that often tops the list of best online poker platforms available in the country.
Titan Poker is another key player in the market as it offers some of the best sign-up offers in the country. It benefits from having a wide player pool that spreads a few different sites also using the iPoker Network. One small issue is that users cannot gamble in either US dollars or the South African Rand. This can lead to players using unfamiliar currencies like Euros or Great British Pounds. However, a little bit of financial research will lead players to be reasonably well-informed.
Winner Poker is an interesting site operating in South Africa. It is one of the few platforms which allows players to bank, withdraw and gamble with the South African rand, the local currency. While it is not the most stable currency, some players would prefer to play with their familiar money rather than have to convert their funds from USD or another foreign money. Winner is often used by more inexperienced players in South Africa, therefore, in theory, it could be easier to make some money on this site if you’re better than the average player.
Payments and Banking in South Africa for Online Poker
There are a few considerations to take into account when online poker players deposit and withdraw funds. As the legality and regulation of online poker are currently being discussed, it’s not something everyone wants to be associated with for fear of being socially annexed. Therefore, not all players want endless online poker transactions littered all over their banking statements. In addition to this, some of the major banks can flag up and suspend accounts if they are seen to be executing online poker payments. This even affects major credit card operators like Mastercard and VISA, as some users have reported an inability to withdraw or deposit funds through these means.
Many online poker players, therefore, prefer to conduct financial banking through other means. While PayPal used to be the preferred method it charges fees which can often deter players from using it. In fact, this has even led some platforms to take PayPal off as a payment method from their sites. In 2023, a lot more people use Skrill as it doesn’t charge and offers a lot of safety precautions.