If you’re considering a career in online gambling or you just want to play for fun, it’s very important to do it legally. One of the easiest traps to fall into is to sign up for an online betting account when you’re not of the legally permissible age.
The legal age for gambling is different from country to country, therefore it’s crucial to check the appropriate legislation. For example, the legal gambling age in the United States is set at 21, with a few exceptions. Gambling in live casinos and online casinos may be permitted as soon as you turn 18 in certain states. However, what does the South African law have to say about this issue? Read on to find out!
Facts about the legal age for gambling
In most places, you must be 18 or 21 to gamble, and this limitation applies to both in-person and online activities. It’s a common misconception that you can be 16 and gamble online, however, it’s not the case. Additionally, it is quite improbable that you will be compensated if you win while you are underage. That’s why you should look for legal online casinos, especially in South Africa.
More about the gambling age
The legal gambling age is not some arbitrary, useless regulation, and you should always have it in mind. You should never play any online casino games for real money if you’re under the age of 18, according to the legislation in South Africa. If you’re under the legal age, you should avoid gambling.
One of the main reasons is that it’s against the law and that you’ll essentially be playing in vain. According to many casino’s terms and conditions, they don’t have to let you withdraw money even if you win unless you’re older than 18.
The gambling age limit is a controversial issue, and you may or may not agree with it. However, it is in place, and all licensed and regulated gaming establishments, including casinos, poker rooms, and bingo halls, abide by it so you have to respect it too. As a result, casino bankroll management and games are only available to those who are at least 18 years old.
This implies that if a respectable casino finds out you were playing when you weren’t authorized to, they won’t pay you your winnings. If they were to give you your winnings, they would be breaching the law themselves. No casino would take the risk and pay out an underage person since they can be legally compensated too.
Occasionally, an offshore casino site may let you play even if you’re under 18. Because many of these sites are already operating illegally, they may not have an issue with you doing business with them. Once you turn the legal age, you should only play at reputable casinos such as ZAR casino or White lotus casino.
Why is there an age restriction for online gambling?
As a result of their lack of life experience, young people are prohibited from gambling. If a person begins gambling at a young age, they are more likely to get addicted to it.
The legislation states that if an internet site actively knows about an underage user, they would lose their license, hence the long registration procedure is necessary to confirm a customer’s age. Underage gambling is against the law, therefore it’s in your best interest and the interests of others to avoid it until you’re of legal age.
If you’re caught gambling before the age of 18, what are your options? It’s possible that the website may permanently ban you. What’s the point if you don’t wait till it’s legal to do it? You will only have legal fines up your neck and be banned from your favorite websites! The National Gambling Board of South Africa regulates all the business regarding online casinos and according to their ruling, you shouldn’t have a gambling account if you’re younger than 18.
