Gaming in South Africa is growing, with the eSports market on the rise as dozens of tournaments take place in the country and teams like Goliath Gaming help generate awareness among South African youth. Additionally, South Africa’s video games market is growing annually, with reports suggesting the market will reach more than USD 300 million this year. By 2027, this figure is predicted to reach USD 461 million.
Elsewhere in South Africa’s gaming industry, we have seen similar upwards trends, such as with online gambling. In fact, experts predict that total revenue in South Africa’s casino games market will reach more than USD 20 million in 2026, with much of this growth aided by in-app purchases.
The Growth Of Online Gambling In SA
However, it is not just in-app purchases that are driving South Africa’s online gambling market, but the sheer variety of games available to players. That includes blackjack, roulette, poker, and a range of online slot games like Asgard, Bubble Bubble 2, and Eternal Love. Slots encompass a range of themes as online casinos try to attract as wide a demographic as possible. Plus, whether you want to play on your mobile device or through a Windows downloadable application, there is a gambling medium for everyone. For these reasons, the number of downloads in South Africa’s online casino games market has increased (a previously projected 8.3 million in 2022).
South Africa’s online gambling market is not an individual experience either, which has helped increase its popularity in a country that enjoys social interaction. For example, there are many casino tournaments players can participate in when they’re playing online gambling real money South Africa games. Yebo Casino, for instance, is a South African online casino operator that offers these types of interactive gambling tournaments, both for slot games and table games like blackjack and roulette. Table game tournaments are best suited for online gamblers who are more competitive. In addition to these tournaments, the number of online bonuses available through online gambling has also increased the casino market’s popularity in South Africa. For instance, players can receive welcome bonuses following registration.
Of course, it is not just online gambling that’s popular in South Africa; brick-and-mortar casinos are still prevalent in the country. For example, some of the top land-based casinos in South Africa include Gold Reef City, Grand West Casino, Monte Casino, and The Boardwalk Casino. But, in other African countries like Kenya and Botswana, where there are not that many land-based casinos, online casinos are the primary form of gambling.
According to reports, most of the global online gambling revenue comes from the United States ($5,712.00m in 2022). Still, other countries are starting to capitalize on the increasing interest in online gambling, such as South Africa. Offering unique selling propositions such as online tournaments will increase South Africa’s position in the global online gambling industry. 2023 will be a big year for South Africa’s entire gaming industry, and it’s worth following along to see its progression.
