Playtech announces live casino games for Betway in South Africa

Last week Playtech announced they’ll be providing their suite of casino games, live dealer included, to Betway in South Africa.

Per Phillip Superamonien, from at Betway South Africa:

“We are excited to bring Playtech’s renowned casino and live casino products to our South African customers, expanding our existing suite of games to provide new, exciting, and engaging gaming experiences within a safe and secure environment.”

You can read the full release below.

South Africa’s iGaming Laws

The more you read into the online casino legal/regulatory situation in South Africa the more confused you get. But you also realise that you’re not the only one who is confused. This includes the regulators.

Let me attempt to explain.

Things begin simply enough with a law that nobody disputes is in operation. The National Gambling Act of 2004 (2004 Act) was passed to govern all forms of gambling in South Africa and establish the National Gambling Board (NGB) as the country’s regulator.

The 2004 Act’s position on online gambling is clear – sport betting is permitted with licenses issued by provincial governments, online casino games are prohibited. Section 11 of the 2004 Act expressly states that ‘a person must not engage in or make available an interactive game except as authorised in terms of this Act or any other national law.’

Next came legislative efforts to license, regulate and tax online casino games. The National Gambling Amendment Act, 2008 (2008 Act) did just that, amending the 2004 Act and paving the way for regulated net casino games. The 2008 Act was passed by Parliament that year and received the required Presidential assent to become law.

But section 44 of the 2008 Act stated that it, ‘comes into operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette‘. While the 2008 Act was published in the Government Gazette no such start date was given meaning it never became law.

There have been subsequent attempts to do the job the 2008 Act was supposed to. An Amendment Bill of 2018 has since failed to pass. Meanwhile a completely separate Remote Gambling Bill was introduced for consideration in April 2024. When or where it goes is anyone’s guess.

But until it passes, governing law is still the 2004 Act – something the NGB are at pains to remind everyone. They put out a media statement in 2021 that begins:

‘The NGB has noted with concern that the issue of the legality of online or interactive gambling is the subject of debate in some circles…To eliminate any uncertainty in this regard, the NGB wishes to make it emphatically clear that the answer to whether online or interactive gambling is legal in South Africa, is a simple and unequivocal NO with the exception of online sports betting’

They go on to remind everyone that the 2008 Act never became law and that the 2004 Act,’ remains the supreme national regulatory prescript for regulating the gambling industry in the Republic of South Africa’.

NGB’s Provincial Regulator Problem

Online sports betting regulation and licensing is left to the Provinces. The country’s most prolific licensor is Western Cape Gambling & Racing Board (WCGRB). They list just under 50 licensed operators at their website, including the likes of Betway who have been licensed since 2017 (via local subsidiary Raging River Trading (Pty) Ltd) and home-grown operator Sunbet (Pty) Ltd.

On WCGRB’s legislation page, under the heading ‘National Acts’, they reference the the 2004 Act and the 2008 Act as the governing law, and provide a pdf copy of the 2008 Act as published in the Government Gazette.

Clearly, the country’s largest provincial regulator gives some kind of authority to the 2008 Act.

The other let-on that they believe online casino games are able to be licensed and regulated is quite simple. They let their licensees offer them.

Betway  is one of, if not the most recognised online sports betting brand in South Africa. In addition to sports bets it does offer casino games (live dealer included). As Playtech announced last week, their casino games will be added to the list of those made available to South African customers.

Sunbet, another of the more recognised brands also offers a comprehensive range of live casino games from multiple providers including Evolution.

NGB’s message is still loud and clear. It is front and centre on their website (which incidentally looks even older than the 2004 Act). But it doesn’t seem too many are listening.

---

The Playtech/Betway Release

PRESS RELEASE – Playtech today announced the introduction of its suite of casino and live casino products with Betway in South Africa.

Catering to the growing demand of South African players for accessible gambling solutions, the collaboration expands Playtech’s presence in South Africa and will see Playtech’s casino and live casino offerings available on the Betway platform in the region.

As part of this partnership, Playtech’s premium casino games and live dealer options will seamlessly integrate into the Betway platform. This not only enhances Betway’s portfolio but also underscores Playtech’s commitment to South Africa – a key market in its global strategy due to its rapid growth and influential position within the African gaming industry.

Diane Crookes, Senior Commercial Director at Playtech:

“Betway is a brand renowned for delivering an excellent player experience internationally and we are thrilled to extend our successful partnership into the South African market. Our collaborations in multiple key markets have been incredibly successful, and we are confident that South Africa will be no exception. We are confident that Playtech’s innovative products and services will enhance Betway’s player experience even further and we look forward to our continued partnership.”

Phillip Superamonien, Country Manager: South Africa at Betway added:

“We are delighted to grow our partnership with Playtech into South Africa. Our already successful partnerships in various markets have provided our players with Playtech’s top-tier gaming content and our superior user experience makes this partnership a perfect fit. We are excited to bring Playtech’s renowned casino and live casino products to our South African customers, expanding our existing suite of games to provide new, exciting, and engaging gaming experiences within a safe and secure environment.”