While sports betting is currently fully legal in South Africa, and there are several online sportsbooks that South African citizens can use, this hasn’t always been the case. You couldn’t always play at companies such as Gbets.co.za by completing a simple sign-up process and sportsbooks weren’t even a thing or legal! It’s only been 20 years since platforms like Gbets became possible since an important act was passed.
Check out below the history of sports betting in South Africa.
Gambling was Initially Banned
Prior to 1996 (before and during the Apartheid years), most kinds of gambling were completely illegal in South African borders. In fact, gambling had been regulated and restricted in some form in South Africa since 1673. The 1965 South African Gambling Act cemented these bans, outlawing all types of gambling in the country except on-track betting on horses. This ban led to a major rise in illegal casino and sports betting activity, with over 2,000 illegal casinos estimated to be operating until 1995.
National Gambling Act 1996 –ushering in change
In 1996, following the end of Apartheid and the onset of democratic elections, gambling became legal in South Africa through the National Gambling Act, which included a range of provisions for regulated gambling activities. At the same time, The National Gambling Board was established to oversee gambling laws and activity in the country.
Sports betting was only regulated to horse race betting as the Gambling Act only made provisions for legal casinos, a national lottery and other types of gaming.
National Gambling Act 2004 – the introduction of Sports Betting
One could argue that 2004 was the year that sports betting in South Africa (on games outside of horse racing) was officially born. The National Gambling Act of 2004 revised the 1996 act, and additional provisions were made for online sportsbooks. However, the legislation at the time did not refer directly to online operations, as the internet was completely new and online sports betting was still a fledgling industry.
Companies were gradually allowed to create online sportsbooks, and South African citizens could legally play at these companies provided that the platform had a license from one of these provincial gambling boards:
- Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board
- Gauteng Gambling Board
- North West Gambling Board
- Limpopo Gambling Board
- Mpumalanga Gambling Board
- KwaZulu-Natal Gaming & Betting Board
- Eastern Cape Gambling & Betting Board
- Free State Gambling & Liquor Authority
At this stage, there were over 30 sportsbook operators in South Africa and this number continues to expand. These platforms are generally high quality and allow South African citizens to bet on popular sports such as football, cricket, rugby, basketball, tennis, golf and many others.
Sports betting in South Africa hist the big time
From an uncertain start, sports betting in South Africs has taken off in a big way, with a host of options in the online and general sport betting space/ the industry has never looked back, and sports betting continues to grow in popularity. Now, the sky’s the limit! Plat at www.gbets.co.za today and discover the wonder and winnings of sports betting.