Online Poker South Africa 2018

There are lots of things us South Africans do really well but simplicity isn’t one of them! So it’s no surprise then that the laws and regulations about poker in ZA are a bit confusing.

When you’re trying to understand something that’s murky and complex, the beginning is always a good place to start. It’s also simpler if you look at the laws governing offline and online poker separately.

South Africa is a bit farther from most large poker tournaments like the WSOP, but there are still ample opportunities for players to get started online and to make a real name for themselves before going on to be pros. There are plenty of real money options to pick from, and there are many professional players that just stick to online. THE GAME OF ONLINE POKER HAS CHANGED IN THE UNITED STATES. For the first time ever poker players in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware can play against each other and find a wider variety of game selection, both in cash games and tournaments. ONLINE POKER SOUTH AFRICA. An Overview Of Poker in South Africa. Not so long ago, we South Africans could only play online Video Poker, which isn't the same as normal online poker. Yes, we could of course take a trip to GrandWest Casino or Monte Casino or even Sun City, but we were missing out on playing online poker against international.

Carry on reading to find out about the start of South Africa’s poker laws, where they stand right now and most importantly, whether you’ll be arrested for playing a few hands down at the bar or at an online poker site.

Online Poker

It depends where you look for the facts but according to all the most trusted poker industry sources and public government information, (http://www.justice.gov.za/sca/judgments/sca_2011/sca2011-155.pdf) , gambling at online poker websites operating from South Africa is completely illegal for South Africans.

So why do some people talk about playing legal poker online from SA? Are they crazy? Hold tight, this is where it starts to get confusing.

While the South African government has now clarified its position on online poker, the reality is that the existing Internet gambling laws are aimed at frightening gambling operators out of the market, not at actual poker players. No real money Internet poker player in South Africa has ever been prosecuted and that’s why South African’s keep flocking to legal international online poker rooms.

The National Gambling Act: Reinvented

Until fairly recently the National Gambling Act of 2004 was literally the only piece of legislation crafted to deal with online gambling (or interactive gambling as the government calls it). It stated that it was illegal to offer or engage in online gambling games.

In 2008 online poker was still being played up and down the country, so the government decided they may as well get in on the revenues. The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 was then published with the aim of legalising and regulating the online poker market. Unfortunately, later in the year of 2008 many offline, land-based casinos in SA teamed up with anti-fraud protective agencies to argue against the introduction of the new, more relaxed rules.

The casinos did this because they didn’t want all their customers going to spend their gambling Rand online instead of at their poker tables and slot machines. The anti-fraud authorities opposed it because it would mean there would be a whole new arena for them to search through and the responsibility of overseeing all online poker transactions sounded a bit too much like hard work!

The final blow for legal online gambling in South Africa came in the summer of 2010. Online gambling at international gambling sites based outside of SA was banned too. This time they didn’t just aim the law at operators either, the government promised to punish the players themselves too.

Luckily for poker fans, the government did a terrible job of outlining what counts as ‘gambling’ and so poker is currently back and fighting fit. Online poker has returned to its good old grey home where no one has nailed down the law and no player has ever been fined.

But wait, there’s more! In mid January 2020 a member of the South African parliament called Geordin Hill Lewis brought the whole thing back up again. He wanted the government to take another look at regulating the online poker market by settling on a final version of the National Gambling Amendment of 2008 which had been left abandoned.

In February 2020 Hill Lewis introduced his Remote Gambling Act to parliament.

The Remote Gambling Act is still being discussed and poker players around SA are holding their breath. They could be holding it a long time though, because here’s what a Department of Trade and Industry representative had to say to South African Independent Online News, “In our view no amount of control will adequately curb the harm that may be caused to South African citizens by online gambling, hence we reiterate that it must remain a banned activity.”

Legal Land-Based Poker In SA

There are around 40 land-based casinos or poker rooms with legal poker tables in South Africa and each offline gambling venue must have the correct licenses to operate in the province they are based in.

Playing poker for real money, against friends, in the comfort of your own home or even on the beach is illegal but it is not heavily policed.

To Recap

Online poker is not clearly illegal in South Africa, as long as you play at an international poker website. We can show you the best international poker websites for you to play at from South Africa, so make sure you check out our reviews page.

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Thanks to recent legislative changes, South Africa online poker is on the cusp of its own golden era. Finally South Africans can join the rest of the civilised world and play online poker SA games. Are you ready to enjoy the greatest card game in the world, and to your schedule and from the comforts of your own home? How about playing from anywhere with an Internet connection thanks to iPhone, iPad or Android gaming? Imagine competing against real, live players from down the avenue and all across the globe.

South Africans have never had more online poker site options than they do right now. It's actually almost overwhelming. Luckily, we can help you find the best sites for South Africans and steer you clear of substandard offerings. We'll even help you understand the game so you can succeed from day one. We want you to start out on those real money ZAR games with the right knowledge.

In South Africa, you'll find:

• South Africans can now play poker online with Rand.
• You can play on your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android tablet or mobile to your own schedule.
• We've found the best poker site for SA players.
• South African poker fans can read our reviews and sign up now to claim a huge bonus.

The Advantages of Playing Internet Poker Rooms

Playing poker online in South Africa has many advantages over playing in land based casinos. You can’t beat the convenience of playing from home or anywhere you have internet access. Furthermore, South Africa poker online gaming gives you a many more options when it comes to tournaments, cash tables and buy-ins.

In a brick-and-mortar casino you may find a few tournies in the evenings, and maybe one or two in the daytime. In the fantastic internet poker rooms we recommend on this site, you can play against opponents from many countries day and night. You never have to wait for long to get a good game, and you don't have to drive to the nearest land based casino.

Cash prizes tend to be bigger in online tournaments, and you can tailor buy-ins to your personal circumstances.

The software of the poker rooms we recommend for South Africans is the best you’ll find anywhere, and if you’ve ever played poker offline you will be impressed with the speed of online tournies. On average, you can play twice as many hands in an hour online as you would playing offline. In addition, you can easily multi-table to increase your chances of winning and to optimise your time. This is great for building your real cash bankroll.

The best online poker rooms, as recommended by us, also offer you a variety of payment options suitable for South African players, so you can choose the one you like best.

The Convenience of Online Poker

Forget fantasising about playing in the World Series of Poker when you can play real games immediately. If you've got the skills you can actually win your way to live landmark events like the WSOP. We'll show you the online poker SA sites that can take you there.

Online Poker South Africa 2018 Results

Online poker SA games are king when it comes to convenience, especially when compared to traditional card rooms at casinos. You can even play for free and the game is completely compatible with your crazy schedule. If you want to enjoy a few hands on a whim or during your lunch hour, internet poker is the answer. With poker sites, South Africa players can simply grab a laptop or iPhone and the cards can be dealt in their direction immediately.

Online Poker South Africa 2018 Schedule

Finding The Right Site For You

It would literally take you years to test all of the South Africa online poker sites competing for your business. First you would need to filter the ones that aren't available to South African players. Even if you had the time to thoroughly test all the sites, you would learn some expensive lessons trying to unearth the truly great from the mediocre and downright bad.

We've found sites with huge player pools so you can play your favourite games for your budget any time of the day. Follow our lead and you'll never have to wait for a game. We'll take you to the sites with the biggest prizes and guaranteed cash that will blow your mind. We are here to teach you the best and easiest ways to fund your account and retrieve your winnings. We'll show you the top software and find you the best poker room for your desktop, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet. You can get on with real money ZA Rand gaming just as well from any device with our recommended sites.

Online Poker South Africa 2018 2019

The South African Online Poker Advantage

As a South African site, we know exactly what online poker South Africa players want and need. Treat us like your digital road map to the best poker sites for South Africans. We'll not only tell you about the best poker rooms open to South Africans, but we'll shine the spotlight on rooms that accept ZA Rand. Learn how to compete against your compatriots and gaming fans from everywhere. Discover which sites have the best rewards programmes, tournament schedules, and prize pools. Want to win your way to a live event like the World Series of Poker? We will lead you to sites that help South Africans get the seats they sorely deserve.

Getting Started With The Best Online Poker SA Games

Whether you are new to the world of cards, or are looking to elevate your game with the rand, we've got you covered. Do you realise just how easy it is to get started? You could be playing poker instead of reading about it! Just follow these simple directions:

Online Poker South Africa 2018 Full

• Browse our reviews and find a site that's perfect for you.
• Follow our link to claim your rand bonus.
• Download the online poker software or mobile app.
• Register your account.
• Start playing and winning.