With a new year comes new opportunity. South Africa remains a country with lots of potential and 2025 will continue to see new trends arriving to try and convince the people of South Africa that they are there to stay. And with new trends also comes new opportunity and that is exactly what many in South Africa are hoping for from the entertainment industry. Like any other nation, these entertainment avenues are becoming increasingly characterised by the digital movement that is engulfing the planet.
Advances in technology and software are improving the capabilities of entertainment options such as gaming, streaming, shopping and even sports. Tech in particular is gaining a greater influence in determining how and what we access, with innovations such as smartphone apps and faster connectivity ensuring our lives become more digital by the day.
However, for an entertainment avenue that is less documented, 2025 could be a ground-breaking year for it. iGaming, which includes online sports betting and online casino play, could be set to jump up another level this year.
The path to a fully regulated industry
South Africa has had a mixed history with iGaming. Since the 1600’s, there has been a severe crackdown on gambling of all forms. Times do change though and despite the difficulties South Africa has endured over the centuries, there has been a slow shift in opinion on the gambling front. The permits that can be obtained by land-based casinos from their provincial authority are now mirrored by the nine national gambling boards that issue licenses for online casino play and betting. However, what remains shrouded in uncertainty are the casino offerings online, which is somewhat stalling the progress and obstructing the recognition of online casinos in SA, for now.
That could be set to change this year if the Remote Gambling Bill is passed by parliament. The motion would provide a welcome boost and more importantly, a clear direction on the regulation of online casinos including what can be offered by online casino operators and played by South Africans.
Until now, there has been uncertainty as to the legality of online casinos, with many South Africans still accessing operators within the country and from other markets. There are however a handful of online casinos that have obtained a valid South African gambling license like those found on SpinaSlots, but there is the overriding feeling that the full iGaming potential has not been exploited.
Due to this uncertainty, it is not officially known to what extent online casinos contribute to the overall revenue produced by online gambling, with the figure falling under the category of the legal online sports betting. But with an official framework for those looking to acquire a license for an online casino, there is the potential to create an online casino playing field across the whole country that has full license to thrive, which in turn would also stamp out the illegal online casinos currently operating in SA.
Plenty of online casino potential
Passing such a bill will not only provide legal framework, but it would also ensure that South Africa are keeping up with the times and current trends. Gambling in an online form has proved that it is not just a flash in the pan. iGaming has been established in other markets for decades already, but due to its own history with gambling, SA is only now catching up and catching on to the lucrativeness of online versions of blackjack, roulette, poker, and slots.
With such rapid progress being driven by digitalisation, trends can move on extremely quickly. But with the convenience and portability provided by the digital influence, it would be a no-brainer to create a secure environment for online casinos in SA. With further innovations in the form of Augmented and Virtual Reality set to redefine the online gambling landscape, there is also plenty more to come from the iGaming industry. 2025 could well be a year full of opportunity for South Africans.
