Breaking South African Casino News

In just four years, online gambling in South Africa has grown by 550%, reaching a staggering turnover of R1.14 trillion in the 2023/24 financial year. That’s nearly 17% of the country’s GDP. This figure, sourced from officially licensed operators, excludes offshore platforms and therefore doesn’t fully capture the extent of gambling activity.

Much of this growth has been attributed to a weak regulatory environment, aggressive marketing practices, and an increasingly digitised gambling ecosystem. Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift online, while platforms like Betway and Hollywoodbets have taken dominant positions in the market, reportedly controlling up to 75% of the betting sector.

Sun International has officially withdrawn from its proposed acquisition of Peermont Holdings, citing delays in the Competition Tribunal’s hearing process. The R7.3 billion agreement—first announced in December 2023—would have included Peermont’s flagship Emperor’s Palace and its online betting arm, PalaceBet.

Although shareholders approved the deal in March 2024, the Competition Commission advised against the acquisition, warning it could harm market competition. The matter was then passed to the Competition Tribunal, which scheduled its hearing for October—well past the deal’s longstop date of 15 September.

ZARBet is rolling out a full week of daily deposit bonuses and free spins, giving South African players something to look forward to each day. With minimum deposits starting from just R20 and promotions tailored to the platform’s exclusive ZARbet Original games, this lineup offers a good mix of match bonuses and free spins. Here's what to expect throughout the week.

Hollywoodbets is hosting a four-phase Playtech Tournament of Champions throughout July 2025, where players can win a guaranteed share of R500,000 in cash. Running from 1 to 31 July, this promotion gives participants the opportunity to climb a real-time leaderboard by placing bets on selected Playtech games. Each phase of the tournament comes with a R125,000 prize pool, rewarding the top 190 players weekly.

3 July 2025, Johannesburg, South Africa — This July, Springbok Casino is roaring into action with its July feature that blends South Africa’s legendary wildlife with the awe of prehistoric times. In honor of the highly anticipated sequel Jurassic World: Rebirth releasing on July 2nd, Springbok Casino presents “Krugerassic Park”, a new adventure featuring the Dino-Wilds—powerful hybrid creatures born from the fusion of South Africa’s most iconic animals and ancient dinosaurs.

To celebrate, Springbok Casino is giving away 25 free spins to play the exciting T-Rex 2 slot, valid until July 31, 2025. Players can dive into the action and experience the Jurassic wilds firsthand at Springbok Casino.

The Gambling Authority of Botswana and the North West Gambling Board of South Africa have held a joint workshop aimed at boosting regulatory collaboration across Southern Africa. This initiative brought together gambling regulators and industry experts to exchange information and share best practices in a bid to improve oversight mechanisms in both jurisdictions.

Hollywoodbets is launching two major promotions this winter, offering South African players additional opportunities to boost their bankrolls and win big. With the Durban July and Wimbledon 2025 both on the horizon, now is a good time to take advantage of these limited-time offers.

From 27 June to 6 July, Hollywoodbets is offering a 15% deposit bonus to celebrate the Hollywoodbets Durban July. The bonus applies to deposits up to R30 000, with a maximum bonus payout of R4 500. Deposits beyond R30 000 will not be eligible for additional bonuses under this promotion.

South African players can now take part in 10bet’s Spinoleague, a long-running tournament promotion with a massive R234 million total prize pool. Running from 27 February 2025 to 4 March 2026, the Spinoleague features multiple tournaments, each with several rounds and a final Super Round, giving players plenty of chances to win.

Springbok Casino has unveiled its latest mythologically themed slot, Hades' Flames of Fortune, now live across all platforms. Set in the fiery depths of the underworld, this 5-reel slot immerses players in a rich, atmospheric world inspired by Greek mythology, complete with lava-lit reels and shadowy symbols. The launch brings a dark twist to online slots, with 243 ways to win and a top payout of up to 2,000x the base bet.

Thunderbolt Casino is turning up the heat this winter with a weekend bonus package designed to maximise your gaming experience. Available every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the offer includes a mix of deposit matches and free spins — all tailored for South African players.

This recurring promotion is structured in three parts:

SOFTSWISS, a global technology provider in the iGaming space, has used its platform at the recent Africa Tech Week to underline its commitment to the South African market. With a focus on cybersecurity, Deputy Chief Security Officer Artem Bychkov delivered a stark warning about the growing sophistication of cybercrime across the continent. He noted that South Africa is now among the top three countries globally in terms of cybercrime-related financial losses, with an estimated R2.2 billion lost each year.

Bychkov urged companies to go beyond participation in Africa’s digital economy by helping to build secure digital ecosystems. “As the continent becomes more connected and digitally empowered, so too does the cyber risk,” he said. “With the right architecture, we can build resilience from the ground up.”

Springbok Casino has added a new title to its collection with the launch of Shogun Princess Quest, a 5-reel slot blending anime visuals with classic gameplay. Set in a world of cherry blossoms and ancient temples, the game invites players into an immersive adventure backed by a detailed soundtrack and elegant animations. It's available on mobile, instant play, and download, ensuring smooth performance across all platforms.

South African players have the chance to win a share of thousands of bonus bets this weekend, thanks to a new promotion from Playtech in partnership with Hollywoodbets. Running from Friday to Sunday, the “Weekend Bonus Bonanza” offers players an opportunity to enjoy selected online slots and possibly be rewarded with one of 3,330 bonus bet prizes.

South African casino players have two exciting tournament opportunities now live at Slots Capital Casino. Whether you're ready to take flight in a high-stakes game of timing or prefer spinning the reels for leaderboard glory, these promotions offer solid chances to win real cash prizes in ZAR. Here's what you need to know:

Tsogo Sun, one of South Africa’s largest hospitality and gaming companies, has expressed mounting frustration over what it calls “disappointing” delays by Western Cape regulatory authorities. The company has been seeking approval to develop casino and hotel projects in Somerset West and Strand for more than a decade, but continues to face administrative barriers.

According to the group, the stalled process is not only a setback for their own expansion but also a missed opportunity for economic development in the Helderberg and Overberg regions. Tsogo Sun has long argued that its planned developments would create jobs, improve infrastructure, and stimulate tourism in these coastal areas. Despite its readiness to invest, the group says the lack of regulatory progress has effectively frozen its contribution to local economic upliftment.

Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau has announced a 12-month temporary licence for the National Lottery, awarded to a sister company of Ithuba Holdings. This decision comes after a Gauteng High Court ruling declared such a licence unconstitutional. Tau, however, has stated he "takes issue" with the judgment and has formally appealed it. The move was made to prevent a suspension of Lotto ticket sales, which were in jeopardy after Ithuba’s previous licence expired over the weekend.

The temporary arrangement ensures continued operation of the National Lottery while preparations are made for a new long-term operator to take over. Tau has argued that the decision was made on the advice of the National Lotteries Commission and in the public interest.

June brings with it a fresh promotion from Jackpot Cash Casino, designed to reward regular players and slot fans alike. With up to R3,000 in bonus funds and 100 free spins on offer, this Main Promo is built to deliver added value to your gameplay all month long.

June 2, 2025, Johannesburg, South Africa (Press Release) – It’s that magical time of year again when majestic whales begin their incredible migration along South Africa’s breathtaking coastline.

In celebration of this majestic natural event, Springbok Casino is inviting players to go big this June with 25 free spins on new game-show inspired slot The Cash is Right — no deposit required!

As the UEFA Nations League 2025 reaches its final stages, football fans and punters alike are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion. With only two semi-final matches and the grand final left, now’s a great time to get involved—and BetNeptune is adding extra incentive with a limited-time cashback offer.

The two semi-final fixtures feature some of Europe’s biggest names. Germany take on Portugal on 4 June 2025, while Spain face off against France on 5 June 2025. These heavyweight clashes are expected to draw major attention from punters, with tight matchups and big stakes at play.

South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is set to name a new National Lottery operator by Wednesday, 28 August 2025, following a significant court ruling that halted Minister Parks Tau’s attempt to temporarily extend the current operator’s licence. Ithuba Holdings, which has run the lottery since 2015, will step aside after a decision by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg blocked an extension to its licence beyond 31 May 2025.