Online Poker South Africa Legal
Si Redd is credited inventing the first video poker game in the 1970’s. The version of poker he chose to use is known as the five-card draw. This is the easiest poker game. It is still the most common at online casinos. In South Africa, the game arrived with the settlers. The form of poker that we enjoy today became prominent in the 1800s. Online poker is one of the fastest online gaming sectors in South Africa for good reason. South Africans love playing poker wherever they can. In the early days it was not that easy to find great online poker sites. However, that is a thing of the past as South African poker sites are now on par with top drawer international online poker sites. 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.
- Legal Online Poker Sites In South Africa
- Online Poker South Africa Legal Sites
- Online Poker South Africa Legal Advice
- Online Poker South Africa Legal Forms
Poker is arguably one of the most popular South African legal online gambling venues available in today’s market and with the proliferation of the Internet there are obvious reason why people are looking to those resources to find legal online poker for South African residents. This is a little bit of a tricky concept. There are legal online poker sites that accept South African players, but the act of playing poker online has been made illegal by the nation’s gambling laws. Online poker is illegal in South Africa (SA) but vast amounts of players reside in that region of the globe. Online poker is generally more convenient for players and offers virtual bonuses that traditional poker rooms don’t offer. At any given time, you can find hundreds of real money poker games available online and playable at your discretion. On this page, we will discuss the legality of online poker in South Africa, some popular gameplay and bonus options and give you our suggestions on how to find steadfast trustworthy sites to play.
| Online Poker Sites | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% Max $2,500 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | ||
| 100% Max $2,500 | 48 Hours | Play Now | ||
Is Online Poker Legal In South Africa?
No, online poker and any other form of online gambling is not allowed in South Africa. The 1996 National Gambling Act made online poker and all other forms of online gambling illegal for residents and operators inside of South Africa’s borders. Anyone who chooses to participate regardless of the laws puts themselves at risk of having their winnings confiscated and could face criminal prosecution punishable by jail time and stiff fines. Despite the restrictions, online poker is still extremely popular among SA players. It seems that a lot of residents are willing to take the risk. This is likely since the authorities do not have the resources or the gall to spy on everyone to see what they are doing online, and the public knows it. This makes the potential for being confronted by law enforcement unlikely, but not 100% impossible. South Africa legal sports betting and South Africa legal online horse racing have fortunately escaped the scrutiny that online poker and South African online casinos have received.
Legal Online Poker Sites In South Africa
Legal Online Poker Sites Accepting South African Players
Why Online Poker in South Africa is Perceived as Illegal Subsequent events have resulted in online poker being perceived as illegal. In 2011, the DTI and National Gambling Board successfully prosecuted the Piggs Peak Casino for offering online casino games despite gaming servers being located in neighbouring Swaziland.
Yes there are some licensed and legal online poker sites that make their services available to residents of South Africa despite the local restrictions. You should note that online poker rooms consider the burden of adhering to South Africa gambling laws the sole responsibility of the player. Law enforcement shares this view. We suggest that if you choose to play online, that you only play licensed offshore poker rooms regulated under their local jurisdictions. The most effective way to know that a poker room you are playing at is safe is to only play on sites that are regulated by trusted gaming commissions. All of the brands listed below are legally sanctioned with the proper licensing, regulatory oversight and compliance certifications.
Which Poker Games Can I Play Online?
Poker is one of the most popular games played on the internet and at any given time there can be over 1 million players online and because of the platform, web based poker rooms can offer more variations of games than a casino can. These are some of the more common variations of poker play you might run across on the internet.
- Texas Hold’Em
- Stud
- Omaha
- Five Card Draw
Can I Participate In Online Poker Tournaments?
Yes, the poker sites featured on this page do offer an active tournament schedule and can produce some big payouts for top qualifying players. The tournament options available from our trusted brands come with a nice range of applicable promotions, a variety of buy in levels, and typically take place around the clock. You can play tournaments on these sites, but the same risks apply for any online gambling activities in South Africa.
Are There Mobile Poker Sites That Accept South African Players?
Yes, there are multiple mobile poker sites that will accept South African legal online casino players registrations. We suggest that you only play using licensed offshore poker apps that are regulated by their own jurisdictions. Nothing on the internet is 100% safe but if you only play at sites that are regulated by gaming commissions you greatly reduce the risk of have your winnings being withheld or even worse, your identity stolen.
How Do Online Poker Bonuses Work?
Different bonuses work different ways but all of them generally have terms or restrictions that apply. In most cases, the poker bonuses are awarded incrementally, so the more you play, the more of your bonus funds are unlocked and added to your account. There are also wagering requirements in place for all bonuses at all sites. Be sure to familiarize yourself with them so that you meet the requirements for withdrawing any associated winnings. Here are some common bonuses you are highly likely to see and a basic breakdown of how they work in the poker arena.
- Sign-up Bonus – The sign-up bonus is used by poker sites to entice players to make an initial deposit. A lot of times you might see a 100% match or even a 200% match up to a certain dollar amount.
- Re-load Bonus – The re-load bonus is an incentive that applies when punters reload their bankroll and a great way for casinos and poker rooms to keep players coming back to their site. One type of re-load bonus will give players a 100% reload the first time, 50% reload the second time & a 30% reload after that.
- Loyalty Bonus – A loyalty bonus is very popular with online poker sites. Operators like to keep their players online and happy, so they will reward their constant play with loyalty bonuses. A lot of times loyalty bonuses can consist of free tournament entry, reload or other bonuses and sometimes merchandise from the host site.
Do Online Poker Sites Accept South African Rand?
Yes, there are certain sites that will accept the South African Rand. Those sites that don’t process transactions using the Rand will usually offer currency conversion services as well as payment options that can be set up with the Rand and then converted. On most sites you will see numerous options for initial deposits and most of them accept the SAR.
How Do I Deposit Money Into My Online Poker Account?
Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) and e-wallets are the most popular ways for punters to deposit their money into offshore accounts because of the ease of access and their conversion aspects. Many sites offer little to no fees when withdrawing money via Bitcoin or e-wallets thus making them a popular choice among international players. There are other traditional ways of making a deposit or a withdrawal including but not limited to: Visa, Mastercard, Prepaid Cards, Cashier’s Check, Person 2 Person, Bank wire transfer.
Will I Have To Pay Taxes If I Win Playing Online Poker?
Online Poker South Africa Legal Sites
Since 2012, recreational gambling winnings are not considered income in SA for income tax purposes, so players are not require to report winnings. However, tax laws are known to change frequently, we suggest you verify this information with a tax professional who is well versed on the aspects of South African gambling taxation.
Can I Get Arrested For Playing Online Poker In South Africa?
Yes, anyone caught participating in online gambling in South Africa can be criminally prosecuted and have their winning confiscated. News24 recently published a story about several players that got caught in Cape Town and had their winnings of R1.25m confiscated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The circumstances of the illegal gambling are unclear and may very well have nothing to do with any type of legally sanctioned online gambling destinations. There are numerous illegal, unsanctioned gambling sites that are illegitimately operating unfortunately. The actual instances of prosecution are not plentiful because of the fact that the authorities do not possess effective methods and resources for identifying online gambling participants. To do so would require a level of ‘spying’ on residents that is highly controversial and very expensive. It is definitely not likely that you would be confronted, however there are no guarantees that you wouldn’t.
Are There Legal Land Based Poker Rooms In South Africa?
Yes, just about every casino in SA has its own dedicated poker room. Most of them hold their own tournaments on the weekends or for special events. The World Series of Poker & World Poker Tour both frequent South Africa’s poker rooms. The tournaments are usually held in or near Johannesburg and have produced some big payouts in past events. There are many poker variations spread across the poker rooms, but some commonly played casino poker games are: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Studs, and more.
A South African high court has ruled all forms of online gambling, including poker, are illegal in South Africa.
As a result of the North Gauteng high court ruling the Gauteng Gambling Board said online casinos and poker rooms offering services in the country are now open to prosecution.
Head of legal services for the board, Lucky Lukhwareni, said, “… we approached the media to alert them of the judgement which makes online casino operations illegal, and if they continue we will have them arrested and fight for conviction.”
Online Poker South Africa Legal Advice
Online gambling operators and players in South Africa could now face fines of up to R10 million, 10 years in jail, or both.