Playing online in South African Rands (ZAR)

One of the biggest things to look out for when you try your hand at online gambling and join an online casino is whether or not they accept you playing in South African Rands.

With so many online casinos being based in offshore territories like Malta and Gibraltar, as well as many not-so-legit online casinos in the wildlands of Russia and the East, you want to make sure that you are playing with a licensed operator who is happy to deal with ZAR.

Why should I use ZAR online casinos?

There are a number of reasons for playing in ZAR or making sure your online casino accepts you playing in ZAR.

• Geared for you
If an online casino is happy to have you playing in ZAR it means that they will offer a welcoming and enjoyable casino. Just like anything in life, when you want to blow off some steam and your chosen place for doing so starts laying down arbitrary rules, it is going to impact your fun.

It’s sort of like going out with your friends and some doorman stops you entering a pub or club because you aren’t wearing the right shoes.

• Security and access
Online casinos that offer their players the choice to gamble in a currency of their own choice can also be seen as establishments that have the right processes in place. If they do not offer you the option of gambling in ZAR, what else are they going to try to stop you doing?

Withdrawing your winnings? Claiming a jackpot because you are not in their area? Be very careful when you sign up at online casinos, some of them will really try anything to stop you taking your money out.

• Exchange rates
This is probably one of the biggest reasons for making sure you can play in ZAR – the foreign exchange rates. It is a reality that the South African Rand does not perform well on the international financial markets. So, it is a simple matter of math.

If you have R10 000 to gamble and you play at an online casino that only allows you to use British Pounds, you are only going to have about £500 to play with. If you play at an online casino that accepts ZAR, you will have approximately R10 000 to play with.

• Costs
When you withdraw your winnings from an online casino, there are associated bank charges. If you are playing in ZAR these are negligible. If you are playing in another currency you are going to be hit with foreign currency charges, exchange rate charges and conversion charges. All of which are going to eat away at your cash.

• Management
You know your ZAR. You use your ZAR every day. Playing in ZAR will help you manage your bankroll, keep an eye on your budget and follow your wins and losses much easier than trying to do financial calculations in your head while playing blackjack (or whatever game you are currently doing your best to beat).

Which online casinos let me play in ZAR?

Because the online casino world exists across borders and continent, most high end and reputable online casinos will have a ZAR option. All you need to do is check that there is the option to play in ZAR when you are registering. If you do not see a ‘play in ZAR’ option, then you might want to try a different online casino for your playing needs.

Online Casino Review have picked a selection of trusted online casinos that welcome South African players, accept ZAR and have some pretty great bonuses for you.

1. Jackpot Casino
2. PlayLive
3. Silver Sands
4. Springbok

Will I be penalized for playing in ZAR?

Absolutely not if you are playing at an online casino that accepts ZAR. In fact, there are a lot of online casinos that offer South African players very rewarding bonuses for signing up and playing in ZAR. Keep an eye out for bonuses that are specifically themed for a South African audience.

How do I gamble online in ZAR?

It is actually very easy:

1) Choose an online casino that catches your eye.
2) MAKE SURE THEY ARE LICENSED AND REGISTERED.
3) Check that they accept you playing in ZAR (you can usually find this when you are completing your banking details).
4). Check the banking options on offer.

What banking methods are available to ZAR players?

This also a very good indicator of how welcoming the online casino is for South African players. The best online casinos will make it easy for you to transact by offering channels that are easy like EFT or credit card. Have a look at our banking page to see exactly which banking methods work best for South African players.

The last thing you want to do is have to sort out your money using some obscure or dodgy third party finance channel.