A Comprehensive Guide to Poker in South Africa
The casino scene in South Africa has grown considerably in recent years, providing many opportunities for citizens across the country to attend and play. Changing attitudes and more liberal views towards such games have led to a flourishing of the casino resort industry, as well as many standalone casinos. The digital payments industry in the country also makes online casino accessible for many and ensures that everyone has a chance to play on something they enjoy. So, what casino options are available in South Africa?
Free State Casinos
The province of Free State has a burgeoning casino industry, especially with the judicial capital of the country, Bloemfontein, being located inside it. The most expansive of the casinos in the Free State province is The Windmill casino. This contains around 400 slot machines and 19 table games. The Frontier Inn and Casino also has a wide selection of casino games with 143 slot machines and 10 table games, with promises that closing time will never be before 4:30 am.
Poker in Gauteng
Gauteng means ‘place of gold’ in Swahili and the Gauteng province, home of Johannesburg, does not disappoint. The province has an even larger selection of casinos for casino fans to choose from. Many of these contain hotels, so are able to benefit from the passing trade of those who might be in the country’s largest city and provincial capital. These include the Tuscany-inspired Montecasino, the Carnival City Casino, Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Resort, and the Gold Reef City Casino.
Poker in Western Cape
The Western Cape is located on the coast of South Africa and is famed for Table Mountain and Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. So, it’s no surprise that the casino trade is busy here, especially as many foreign visitors – both business and pleasure – head to the coast. The Grandwest Casino and Entertainment World is one of the best in the country, with 2,000 slot games and 70 table games, plus vistas of Table Mountain. The Caledon Hotel, Spa, Casino & Entertainment and Oceania Cruises Nautica Casino also have a wide array of games on offer.
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Poker in Limpopo
The Limpopo province contains only one casino, but it does offer a lot for those who are interested. Located not too far away from Limpopo and Kruger National Parks, the Thaba Moshate Hotel Casino Convention Resort offers 160 slot games and 11 tables of games such as roulette, poker, and blackjack. The benefit of this casino resort is that the slot games are available 24 hours a day.
Poker in KwaZulu-Natal
The coastal KwaZulu-Natal province is known for its savannahs, but it is also home to a wide range of casinos and resorts. Since the early 2000s, the region has been home to casinos for those visiting from around South Africa. The Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom is home to 1,214 slot machines and 48 gaming tables that offer games from blackjack and roulette to poker and baccarat. The Suncoast Casino in Durban offers an exciting mix of casinos and even has a slot payout tally on its website, which helps to show potential players how popular the games are. The Umfolozi Hotel Casino and Convention Resort offers 300 slot games and 14 table games. The region clearly has a solid offering when it comes to casinos, especially as many people flock to the coast.
Poker in Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape may not have as many casinos as some of the other provinces, but it does have the Hemingways Casino Hotel in East London (the one in South Africa). The casino offers a gaming rewards loyalty scheme for those who might use the hotel and its sister hotels throughout South Africa. The casino might be in one of the newer provinces, but it does boast a wide range of slots and table games to rival some of the more established casino resorts.
Poker Online in South Africa
The online casino industry benefits from the digital payments sector in South Africa, which makes it more accessible for people to engage with playing online. The online offering attempts something different to the land-based casinos and racecourses in order to provide people with a diverse experience. One of these ways is through live dealer online casino games, such as poker and roulette, which allows players to see a dealer choose their cards or spin the wheel in real-time, giving an added level of tension to the game.
As we can see, the casino industry in South Africa is booming. Throughout Africa in general, we are also seeing a rise in casinos and opportunities for the industry to continue to grow. This also includes more thorough internet connections and the growth of the payments industry that helps many to access these games. South Africa’s casino landscape looks set to continue to thrive.