As South Africa’s largest online casino, PlayLive faces a large number of questions. With the state of gambling laws in the country still in flux, many people may be unsure whether they are allowed to play casino games at sites such as PlayLive.
Indeed, many individuals may be asking whether PlayLive is a scam, given it sometimes looks as though it is simply too good to be true.
PlayLive and online gambling in South Africa
Strictly speaking, interactive gambling services in South Africa are prohibited by the National Gambling Act 2004, which remains in force to this day.
The law covers casino games such as blackjack and roulette, as well as poker and bingo. All online operators are subject to this legislation, even though online sports betting on horse racing and other sports such as football is not against the law in South Africa.
The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 aimed to legalise online casinos, but after opposition from land-based operators the law did not come into effect. As such, it is fair to question whether or not PlayLive is a scam and if South Africa’s largest online casino is operating legitimately in the country.
But PlayLive is licensed and regulated by the Curacao Gaming Authority, which should allay any fears or concerns South Africans who want to bet might have about the online casino. PlayLive is also Ecogra approved, which is important for any online casino operating in South Africa. Indeed, as it notes on the PlayLive site, the Curacao Gaming Authority is “recognised for their stringent standards and a highly respected regulatory achievement for any gaming operator”.
Online gambling in South Africa and the coronavirus crisis
Like many countries all over the world, the South African economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, while more than 1,000 people in SA have been killed by COVID-19 to date. With casinos and bookmakers among the businesses to have been affected by the pandemic, some experts believe this could lead to online gambling finally being legalised in South Africa. According to co-founder of consultancy firm Global Gaming Group, Yahaya Maikori, there will be lots of regulatory, policy and legislative activity across Africa in the industry in the near future.
“South Africa will probably be at the forefront of legitimising online gambling, especially as the casinos – which are significant contributors to the economy – will lose revenue to countries such as Lesotho and Mauritius,” said Maikori, who is also a senior partner of Law Allianz.
Online poker, bingo and slots could therefore all be introduced legally to the South African market, giving popular operators such as PlayLive an extra air of legitimacy as a result.
A recent study released by ResearchAndMarkets.com showed mixed results for the gambling industry in South Africa, while noting an upswing in online activity since the arrival of COVID-19. The report – which was titled The South African Gambling Industry in South Africa 2020 – also indicated people could cut back on non-essential pastimes like gambling due to financial issues.
“While the casino segment continued to generate the lion’s share of total gross gambling revenue, its market share declined markedly as bingo, betting and limited payout machines became popular,” said the ResearchAndMarkets.com study. “Online gambling had been increasingly taking share from on-the-ground casinos and other betting outlets.”
What makes PlayLive stand out from the crowd?
PlayLive claims to be South Africa’s largest online casino, with the site used by many people living in the country who want to play games such as roulette and blackjack. Not only is PlayLive the top online casino in South Africa by size, it has also won praise from critics. In the recent London 2020 Global Gaming Awards, PlayLive was given the prize for the Best Online Casino in South Africa.
Among the reasons why PlayLive scooped the prize were the fact that the site has rolled out same day payouts over the course of the last year. This means customers who play casino games at PlayLive no longer have to wait more than a few hours after making a withdrawal. PlayLive’s innovations during the course of 2019 also included the launch of a new live casino. Offering players the chance to take a seat for table games, the live casino has been a big hit. At the current time, PlayLive is the only site in South Africa that offers players this experience.
Chief executive at PlayLive, Rob Keats, said the company is aiming to use state of the art features in order to achieve its goal of building the ultimate online gaming experience. He added: “This award solidifies PlayLive as the top online casino in South Africa and is only a testament of the hard work me and my team have made to bring the best live gaming casino experience to the home of the Casino or gaming fan alike.”
Anyone worried about whether or not PlayLive is a scam should therefore be assured of the site’s legitimacy as a result of its success at the London 2020 Global Gaming Awards.
Why South Africans choose PlayLive over other online casinos
There are many benefits to joining PlayLive, which helps to explain why the site has become the biggest and best online casino in South Africa right now. Among them is the fact there are some 1,300 different casino games to try out for those with PlayLive accounts, meaning there is guaranteed to be something for everyone.
Onetouch, Caleta Gaming and Indi Slots are among the developers to have provided online casino games to the PlayLive library. In addition, customers at this online casino site can also find games from companies such as Play ‘n Go, Kalamba Games, Evolution Gaming, Wazdan and Blueprint Gaming.
Games are available to play in a range of different formats. PlayLive customers can play their favourite games at this online casino on a desktop computer, a mobile phone or a tablet.
Customer service is also available 365 days a year, so anyone who has a problem with their PlayLive account will be able to get help from friendly agents very quickly indeed.
Customers at PlayLive are also rewarded for their loyalty. Regular players will gain automatic entry into the online casino’s VIP rewards scheme, which comes with a wide array of perks.
What this all means is that PlayLive offers its users a complete package.
Promotions and offers that can be used at PlayLive
One of the reasons why PlayLive has become the biggest South African online casino is the generous offers and promotions the site makes available to its users.
These offers are used as a way to both reward loyal customers and to bring new people to the online casino, giving them a reason to pick PlayLive other a rival South Africa casino site.
Players who sign up for a PlayLive account can get a 10 per cent rebate on their weekly losses, giving them another chance to win cash on the site’s huge range of casino games.
Potential customers who are worried about whether or not PlayLive is a scam may be unsure about the welcome bonus that is offered by the casino, but it is all above board.
New users who join PlayLive’s leading South African online casino can get a 100 per cent bonus on their first deposit into their account if they use the bonus code MAYHEM when signing up.
Additionally, every Friday there is a special promotion run by the PlayLive online casino that sees 20 players handed a R1,000 cash bonus – users do not even have to enter.
What types of games are offered at PlayLive?
Among the assurances users worried about if PlayLive is a scam can receive is the sheer number of games that can be played at this South African online casino. At disreputable sites there is usually a small number of games to play and they often do not run smoothly, which is certainly the case on the PlayLive site – even on a mobile device. The games that are offered at PlayLive are being added to all the time as the online casino aims to give its customers even more choice over where to put their money.
As an example, PlayLive recently announced that it was adding MONOPOLY Live – which is made by Evolution – to its site. CEO Rob Keats said live and immersive games are particularly in demand at the casino. He added: “Our aim is to grow with the trend and build out verticals that support the demand through key industry partners.”
A 3D bonus round is among the reasons people should choose MONOPOLY Live the next time they log in to play casino games at the PlayLive site. Wheel of Fortune is among the other popular properties that has been turned into a live casino game that can be tried at PlayLive.
