There has been a noticeable shift in the gambling habits of South Africans, with an increasing number of bettors reaching for their cellphones to get their gaming fix.
This trend is far from exclusive to South Africa, with the worldwide accessibility of smartphones and the simplicity of the sign-up process fuelling a surge in online gambling, reducing the demand for traditional land-based establishments.
In SA, there is an increasing appetite for online gambling, with the nation’s gambling revenue rising to R75 billion for 2025, marking a seriously strong year for the sector. With the industry ballooning by 550% over the last two years, accounting for 17% of the country’s GDP, it has led many to question whether this exponential growth can be sustainable. We’ve taken a closer look at what the future may look like for this rapidly expanding sphere.
Recent Trends
The online casino industry has enjoyed a profitable period with players shunning traditional brick-and-mortar establishments in favour of convenience. Many operators have launched user-friendly mobile apps or improved the navigation of their existing mobile platforms, enabling users to log into their accounts, make swift payments and enjoy immersive games from the comfort of their own home. Furthermore, each online casino offers a generous welcome bonus, allowing South Africans to enjoy their favourite slots using house money.
Over 13.5 million people in the country have access to a smartphone, with this number expected to rise by almost 40% by the end of the decade. These powerful devices pave the way for instant access to popular casino sites, with players able to create an account and make a deposit in under five minutes.
The global pandemic, which prevented South Africans from visiting land-based casinos, has also contributed to an annual decline of 3.3% in the number of physical establishments post-pandemic.
Nevertheless, online casinos still pale in comparison to sports betting, which contributed almost triple the R16.6 billion accrued by online casinos for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
2026 and Beyond
With gambling turnover having increased to a record R1.5 trillion for the year 2024-25, this trend is expected to continue into 2026. Nevertheless, online casino revenue has fallen behind sports betting revenue, and operators will be determined to bridge that widening gap.
Artificial Intelligence is likely to play a significant role in enabling casinos to improve their product and increase their appeal to South African players. Enhancing user experience will be key to sustainable success, with personalised options, including recommended mobile-friendly games, likely to become commonplace amongst online casinos in the region.
Casinos are starting to employ player analysis behaviour and increase engagement levels. ‘Gamification’ has been a buzzword in the industry for the last couple of years, and we’re likely to see a greater number of South African operators utilise gamification techniques and processes to capture a younger audience whom they will look to retain. These could include leaderboards, interactive challenges, badges, and unlocking different levels. Furthermore, we may see a rise in social media influencers being asked to advertise new gaming releases and casino products. We’ve already seen Robert Murawa, DJ Zinhle and K.O. promote gambling firms in South Africa; they are unlikely to be the last.
One of the most noticeable global trends of the past few years is the upsurge of crypto casinos. These have already started to reshape the casino industry in the UK, and it is likely to follow suit in South Africa. Fueled by digital currencies, these casinos are relatively inexpensive to run, and they offer instant and secure transactions for digital-savvy users. They allow players to deposit and withdraw funds anonymously as they are based on a decentralised peer-to-peer network. Many of these operators now facilitate the purchase of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and USDT, making it simple to sign up and get started.
Quite a few crypto casinos also boast a wider selection of games, including unique titles, and have also incorporated many of the gamification features that we have previously highlighted.
Furthermore, the flexibility of their payment options has resulted in low minimum deposits and non-existent upper limits, creating a platform which appeals to both small-stakes players and high rollers alike.
The number of cryptocurrency casino users could outstrip that of standard online casino players, though that transition may take several years to materialise. Although some older players are sceptical about embracing digital currency, younger gamers, notably Gen Z, are savvy enough to understand the importance of anonymity and secure payments. They are more likely to be drawn to these sites.
