While Nigeria and Egypt possess fast-growing economies to challenge South Africa, it is the largest on the continent in nominal terms of GDP and has its industries generally well-positioned online gaming inclusive. This is, however, closely followed by Nigeria and Egypt, which have fastgrowing economies; however, South Africa remains the hub for several Africa-based industries.
Online gaming has far greater online, more global significance than just that of South Africa. While certain laws and regulations offer a base and the blueprint to online gaming companies, specifically online gambling companies looking to set up and expose their potential in SA, it is basically competing against a broad global market. As players seek trustworthy platforms, finding secure blackjack casinos is a crucial part of their search for an ideal online gaming experience.
While some minor differences within the South African market may have lent some shape to its evolving industry into a thriving multibillion-dollar enterprise, the online gaming experience in South Africa is bound to the very same trend of international growth. Online casinos embody basically the same nature of global crafts, and the same thing applies to video gaming, that is, the exact trend is taking place.
Early days of online gaming
The UK was among the first to make a serious mark in the formative years of the online gambling market, with its UK Gambling. Several countries soon took this as a model to regulate their industries. This would also place South Africa among the first few countries in Africa to do so when the National Gambling Amendment was put into effect.
With this trend continuing to take the online market by storm, more countries were quick to follow suit. Recently, however, the US and Canada are proving to be two of the largest economies making their way into a fully functioning and regulated online gambling market. South Africa came early to the game, and that early call has paid big dividends.
Mettlestate and 24 Bit Games are the two companies providing assurance that the gaming market in South Africa will not concentrate too much on casino gaming, alongside ensuring that it becomes multifaceted and internationally competitive on several fronts.
Signals of market strength
A market that is worth billions never reaches its full potential overnight -many factors play during the creation of such variety. Online gambling in South Africa might be taking a leaf out of the book of online gambling launched in other countries earlier on. What does stand against SA casino gamers is that there are suggestions and reviews from experts readily available for them.
South African experts review sites dedicate themselves exclusively to South African providers. However, as players across the larger online gaming realm have started gravitating toward expert review sites seeking advice from experts, it's given rise to a horde of casino experts voicing their opinions on the new platform or gaming innovation.
Not only does this allow players in South Africa to understand what makes an online casino worth playing at, but it also adds further legitimacy to the industry; now, there are an army of experts who, as their full-time job, review online casino gaming platforms. Expert review sites started to appear in the mid-2000s, but now they constitute a regular part of research into what causes a player to make an informed decision.
The rise of the smartphone
We can’t discuss the rise of online gaming in South Africa without exploring how smartphones have transformed the market. Some gamers and those in the industry place online gaming on PCs and video gaming consoles, and smartphone/mobile app gaming into two distinct cat\
However, compared to economies like the USA and the UK, South Africa's smartphone population is tinier – about only 40% – yet moving fast. It does not necessarily mean that all South Africans who have a smartphone will play mobile games or gamble from their phones, but because of the ease of use and the fact that investment has continued to grow, the future of the industry in South Africa appears really bright.
The future of online gaming
Opinions among specialists are divided as to which aspect of online gaming does carry the greatest influence: some think it is AI, whereas others prefer the theory of VR as the biggest impactful change. In all honesty, both of these aspects together will change the world.
Currently, it seems implausible that VR headsets are the issue, mainly on account of the really expensive cost still attached to them. They might have come down in price over the last 18 months, but that is mainly because of the volume of devices saturating the market and thus causing a surplus at this time. Far from what one would expect of a budding market, yet that is what the gaming trends can do to a market; without notice, it may swing in either direction.
Final thoughts
From home video console gaming to the more specific online casino gaming, it is no secret that the South African gaming industry has in many ways ridden the crest of the wave in the same direction that the bigger gaming markets-of primarily the UK and the US-had set during the past 30 years.
Online gaming remains a significant portion of entertainment in South Africa. While South Africa may not be leading the world at this stage, there are more than enough pioneering companies and innovators that can have it come an important gaming creative hub in the continent.
In times to come, the South African gaming industry will likely not swayer from the broad worldwide trends, simply because it will be where the bulk of the investment will be directed. The next level of investment is pouring into AI and VR, and of course, the logical progression therefrom will be into gaming – and if gaming follows suit, so will the South African market.
