For those in countries that are legally eligible, gambling in an South African Online Casino is easy. In fact, if you’re reading this you pretty much have everything you already need. A head with some common sense to play responsibly and smart; a device, be it a mobile or computer; and finally an internet connection. Other hygiene factors in addition to the legal jurisdiction is that you have to be of age in your country of residence – this is usually either 18 or 21. If you are unsure about your legal jurisdiction, it’s best to check with your country’s regulatory authority about the relevant laws.

Once you’ve sorted out those basics, the next step is ensure you have a good funding mechanism to securely deposit and withdraw your funds to play, and your winnings. That is assuming that you want to gamble online for real money. Please check out the relevant deposits and withdrawals section below for more details on the best and cheapest ways to fund your account.

Finally, all that’s left is to select an online casino of your choice using some golden rules to help protect yourself from scams. This involves making sure that the casino has a good reputation, and usually that it has been around for a while, or at least backed by a big operator that has been. Once you’ve done that, you can create a real money or fun account on that casino using the guide below.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions about casinos and online gambling:

1. Do I have to download casino software to play?

Reputable casinos have certified virus free software that is easy to download and install on your PC. This generally provides the best user experience in terms of both speed and graphics. Many casinos, however, also offer no download versions of their casino. These are also called Flash casinos or Instant Play casinos. On these you do not need to download software. A secure casino application linked to your casino account loads up in your browser for you to play.

2. I found a casino that offers free deposits – can I sign up multiple times?

This is generally prohibited by the terms and conditions of most online casinos – please be sure to read these before signing up and claiming any bonuses. Do not try to register multiple accounts on the same casino – many deem this as fraudulent behavior and it’s likely to get you banned and your winnings nulled.

3. I am a new to online gambling – what is the best way to learn?

It’s easiest to find a reputable online casino, then create a fun account (i.e. one that does not involve you making deposits with real money). On these accounts you play with virtual money and can try out both the different games as well as potential strategies. When you’re comfortable with the rules and how specific games you’d like to play work, it’s normally an easy process to convert to a real money account if you’d like to.

4. How can I be sure that the games are fair?

Licensed mobile and online casinos, in fact land-based casinos too, all need to declare to the relevant regulatory authority the payback percentage they operate under for specific categories of games. The bigger casinos usually publish these on their sites (e.g. 97% payback on all slots) These licensed casinos are usually independently audited to ensure that the percentages they claim are valid and that the games are in fact random.