Future of Poker in South Africa

Looking into the future of South African poker is exciting and challenging, to say the least. While men and women from this nation have played poker for decades and some have become well-known in the poker world, it’s still true that poker in South Africa is an industry on the “grow.” The National Gambling Act of 1996 was replaced by a new set of guidelines and regulations in 2004, as government and industry leader attempted to keep up with the explosion in gaming popularity.

Poker in South Africa: Steadily into the Future

The National Gambling Board states that it continues to keep a close watch on “the social and economic impact of gambling, and the impact of technology in the industry” in an effort to make informed decisions regarding gambling in general. With a solid foundation for the entire gambling industry, South Africa has experienced investments totalling more than R12 billion in infrastructure and employment in the past 15 years.

World-Class Reputation

Government leaders and industry leaders know that South African gambling has a solid reputation around the world. This includes poker, not only because of “official” efforts but also because of success at the tables. Raymond Rahme may be the most recognizable name in South African poker but there are many players from this country who are carrying the S.A. poker torch worldwide. Mark Vos may live in Australia now but he was born in Cape Town. Ryan Dreyer has captured the attention of poker opponents. Peter Vermaas is another player that has brought attention to poker in South Africa.

South African Poker Tour

Some recent articles and reviews of poker maintain that the South African game is slightly off the lead in comparison to United States poker and European poker. But the game is expanding across the continent, with South Africa as the focal point for this growth. Groups such as the South African Poker Association (founded 2004) try to spread the word about poker here. Players have the opportunity to participate in the South African National Poker Championship in Johannesburg, for example. Enterprising individuals have stepped in to create a South African Poker Tour as well. The All-Africa championship held at Piggs Peak casino in Swaziland carried a R1 million prize.

Live Casinos and Electronic Tables

Live casinos and poker rooms are spread across the nation, with more than three dozen offering exciting and enjoyable gambling at last count. In January, Emerald Resort and Casino (owned by Harrahs) issued a press release stating that World Series of Poker is coming to South Africa. While the Emerald currently offers poker tournaments, the addition of the WSOP name to South African poker is huge in terms of recognition and reputation. Industry watchers have also noted that electronic poker tables might take over some of the action in the future. One company that is pursuing electronic-table use has placed their tables in a number of locations, including the United States, Germany and South Africa. Another organization that is at the head of the electronic-table pack, Shuffle Master, has offices in Australia, Macau and in South Africa.

With this type of commitment, and with the growing number of solid players from South Africa, the future of poker in this country seems bright indeed.