Gambling Age In South Africa
South Africa has had a long history of betting and gambling related activities that go back to the 15th century. The betting industry retains its widespread popularity to this very day, with much of it focused on soccer, cricket, horseracing and rugby. Betting on the outcome of soccer games is a particularly favored pastime for the under-45 set, mainly due to the introduction of “Soccer 6”, which offers remarkably high returns. Numerous changes and additions to the South African online betting scene are expected in the coming years however, and it would appear that sport betting activities would continue to be a prominent part of the South African social fabric for a long time to come.
What is the minimum gambling age in South Africa? Potential players need to be at least 18 years of age to gamble in South Africa. The legal gambling age applies whether you are playing live or on the internet. Keep in mind that online casino gambling sites may request identification. However, Gambling in SA has been strictly banned since 1673, under South Africa's Gambling Act of 1965 officially banning all forms of gambling except betting on horse racing which existed as a sporting activity, but in 1994, when the new democratic government came to power, all forms of gambling were legalised. There are several offshore South. Most nations in North and South America flit between a legal age for gambling of 18 and 21 years of age – notably, there are no nations without gambling restrictions. This could be perhaps due to the large impact the Catholic church has had on the culture of these societies. South Africa is not a nation with a strong reputation for permissive gambling laws. Prior to 1994, all forms of gambling were outlawed in South Africa. Some relaxation in legislation has occurred since 1994, which now allows residents of South Africa and tourists visiting the nation to gamble in licensed, land-based casinos. Only two years later, gambling laws in South Africa would again, go through drastic change. History Of Gambling Laws In South Africa National Gambling Act of 1996. The first democratic legislation in the country of South Africa to formally regulate gambling was the National Gambling Act of 1996. It established a system of legally operating.
Legalities of Betting Online In South Africa
While the Gambling Act of 1965 definitively banned all forms of land based betting in the country until 1996, there have been no clear-cut laws with regard to online gambling up until 2008. In May of that year, Parliament passed what was called the National Gambling Amendment Bill, which sought to regulate the online betting industry in South Africa, and effectively legalized online gambling with certain restrictions. With this law, the government aims to clearly define what does and does not fall under the legal coverage of online betting.
Gambling Age In South Africa Vs
There are a number of rules and restrictions that govern players as well as South African online betting sites. South African players will only be allowed to wager at betting sites licensed by the government for example, and they will have to show proof of legal age. An online betting site that wishes to service South African players on the other hand will have to apply for the proper licenses and pay the appropriate taxes.
Current Online Betting Trends In South Africa
The recent move by the government to allow betting online will no doubt affect gambling trends in the country. Not that it needs any help of course; online betting has managed to garner widespread popularity in the country even before it was officially legalized, and many players then simply took advantage of the absence of any clear cut laws. Now that the lines have been clearly defined, South Africa online gambling is expected to attract even more players.
How Old For Gambling
Among the most popular games in the online betting websites are sports betting, online poker, blackjack and slots. A large portion of the South African online gambling market is comprised of players in the 30- to 45-year-old age group, although signs point towards a downward shift in the trend, with younger and younger players opting to do their gambling online.
What Happens If You Gamble Under 21
South African Betting History
Certain forms of betting and/or gambling were actually banned or otherwise restricted in the country as far back as 1673. However, it would be almost 300 years later when the government would take a heavy-handed approach to curtailing the activities of gamblers, with the passing of the Gambling Act of 1965.
In 2000, the local betting scene was rocked by a scandal involving charges of game fixing by certain key players working in conjunction with Indian bookmakers.