- Online Poker South Africa Legal Sites
- Online Poker South Africa Legal Aid
- Online Poker South Africa Legal Forms
- Online Poker South Africa Legal Advice
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. 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.
South Africa online poker casinos offer a variety of fun, entertaining online poker rooms. The game is very popular in South Africa, so there are always plenty of people to play with. Game play is far quicker than at a land based casino because you don't have to wait for the dealer to shuffle or deal. Another big advantage is that you can play more than one hand of poker at the same time. Most pros play four to five hands at the same time, making it easier to win more money. It's also far more challenging and fun playing multiple hands at the same time.
South Africa Poker Laws. South Africa is a fairly large country of about 55 million people on the southern coast of the continent of Africa. It has the second largest economy in Africa after Nigeria, although Nigeria’s per capita GDP is less than half of South Africa’s. Is online poker official in South Africa? South Africa poker sites still are alive in one of those grey areas legally. Fortunately, the government is now sincerely allowing for changes to the rule to allow for fully synchronized online gambling. Remember that free-play poker sites South Africa Company’s offer is also totally legal.
Because you are only betting against other players for real cash, the online casino charges a small fee called a rake to facilitate the game. This also applies in all land based casinos, including in Las Vegas and South Africa.
- Challenge players from around the world
- Try different types of poker like Omaha, Hold 'Em, HORSE and Chinese
- Learn about some of the best places to try your hand at online poker
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Texas Hold'em with no limits is the best known variant of poker at online casinos, with different categories such as heads-up (one against one) or six-max games. It's fun, fast-paced and suitable for players of all levels. Find a level you are happy with and then practise in free mode. In this way you can learn to beat other players and then play for real money.
At poker online casinos the dealer shuffles the standard 52-card deck. Each player is dealt two cards, and all players share five community cards. These cards are dealt face up through three rounds of play called the Flop, the Turn and the River, with betting after each round. The best 5 card hand using any combination of the five community cards and the two private player cards wins. Be sure to read the online casinos poker rules if you are not familiar with the casino online, as some may vary slightly.
The players need to guess what their odds are of winning based on their cards and what they think the other players in the poker rooms have in their hands. Once the last bet or raise has been called, showdown occurs; the players show their hands, and the player with the best ranking hand wins the pot. Most casinos online poker websites also track the game play, so players at the online casino can review their winning hands.
We recommend that new players to online poker casinos play at the 'New to the Game' tables, which help new players learn the rules and build their confidence before playing against more experienced ZA players. 'New to the Game' tables offer players at online casinos slower play speeds and tips are given to enhance playing style.
Some variants of casinos online poker are Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi and Omaha Hi Lo, Razz, Stud Hi, Stud Hi Lo, 5-card Stud, 7-card-Stud, and Draw Poker
Understand the different poker hands, the best bets and the best odds
The different real cash betting thresholds in poker online casinos are no limit (the maximum is the amount of chips available at any given time), pot limit (the player can raise or bet any amount up to the size of the pot) or fixed limit (restricts the amount per bet).
The highest ranking is the royal flush: five cards in sequence with all five of the same suit and ace high, followed by the straight flush, four of a kind (four cards of the same rank); full house (three cards of one rank plus two of another rank); flush (five of the same suit) and then lesser combinations.
At most South African casinos online, there are quick links to the poker rules for your convenience.
Beginner's tips and strategy for winning big at poker sites
Poker is easy to play, but hard to play well. The trick to being a good poker player is consistency, which can be learnt through careful play and taking advantage of your opponents mistakes.
Choose your betting stakes and practise managing your bankroll by starting out with small stakes until you master the game.
At online poker casinos you cannot see your opponents body language, so learn other behaviour traits such as betting patterns, play speed, and other non-physical 'tells'. When you get dealt a good hand, don't let your opponents sense your excitement by upping the stakes too quickly.
AThanks to the current law in South Africa, playing any game at an online casino is currently considered illegal. As is the case in many countries though, such as the US, people still play at online casinos every day, and the chances of being prosecuted for doing so are slim to none. If the National Gambling Amendment Act 2008 is passed soon, it will make online gambling legal in South Africa though.
ASouth Africans are spoiled for choice when it comes to online casinos, as there are so many fantastic ones for them to choose from. To help you choose, we’ve reviewed many of them, and have decided that Springbok Casino is the top place for South Africans to play. Silver Sands Casino and Yebo Casino are also both exceptional places to play.
APlaying hold’em online differs in a few ways to playing it in a casino, and the main difference is the fact that it’s much faster. This is because there is no waiting around for other players to make their decisions. Playing at a casino will also give you access to a number of exciting and innovative side bets, many of which aren’t found in land-based casinos.
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AIt would be incorrect to say that casino hold’em is the most popular table game at online casinos, as both roulette and blackjack are far more popular amongst players. It is still enjoyed by many South African players every day though, both in the standard format and in the live dealer format, which has revolutionized the way in which table games are played at online casinos.
A
This really depends on the version of casino hold’em you are playing, as each version has its own paytable. The highest paying hand in the game is the royal flush though, and this usually pays around 100:1. Other high paying hands in the game are the straight flush and four of a kind. You should always check the paytable before playing though.
AThere is very rarely the chance to take part in a casino hold’em tournament, as this is a game played between you and the dealer – meaning that there are no other players to compete against. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t promotions for casino hold’em players though, although they aren’t as common as promotions for some other types of games.
AWhen you play at one of the online casinos that we have recommended, you can be sure that the games are not rigged in any way. This is because we only recommend casinos that are monitored by reputable regulatory bodies, which oversee every aspect of a casino’s conduct. Thanks to this monitoring, it is virtually impossible for a casino to cheat its players.
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.
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Online Poker South Africa Legal Forms
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 Accepting South African Players
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.
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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?
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.