Online poker is illegal in South Africa under the National Gambling Act of 2004, which prohibits both offering and engaging in interactive gambling services including poker (1). The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 attempted to legalize and regulate online poker, but it has not come into force due to opposition from land-based casinos and anti-money laundering authorities (2). While the law technically prohibits online poker, no players have ever been prosecuted for participating on international poker sites, creating a grey area where enforcement targets operators rather than individual players.
The National Gambling Board, established under the National Gambling Act, oversees regulation of the gambling industry throughout South Africa and works to preserve integrity as a responsible global jurisdiction (1). The NGB evaluates provincial licensing authorities, monitors compliance of licensees, conducts oversight evaluations, and maintains national registries of gambling machines and devices (1). Licensed online sports betting and horse racing are permitted in South Africa, but casino games including poker remain excluded from legal online offerings.
"The National Gambling Board is responsible for the oversight of the regulation of the gambling industry throughout the country and to preserve the integrity of South Africa as a responsible global citizen."
Live poker is legal at licensed land-based casinos throughout South Africa, with venues like Emerald Casino in Vanderbijlpark and Rio Casino in Klerksdorp offering regular cash games and tournaments (2). The Emerald Casino previously hosted WSOP Africa events with buy-ins ranging from $150 to $10,400, while current cash games include Limit Hold'em tables with betting limits from ZAR25 to ZAR1,000 (2). GrandWest Casino in Cape Town and Shuffle Up Poker Room in Sandton also provide poker facilities under provincial gambling licenses issued by Provincial Licensing Authorities.
Source:
https://www.ngb.org.za/home/
https://somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/africa/south-africa
Last updated: 10-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
