It wasn’t until late in the 2000s that online gambling was introduced in Africa. Internet gaming was initially a concept created for westerners, so it took so much time for online betting to land.
The unavailability of reliable internet and other infrastructure necessary for setting up internet casino sites derailed to the late introduction of betting provisions in this region.
Even though it took some time for this phenomenon to be welcomed and socially accepted in Africa, gamblers within this region have slowly embraced the concept and running with it. Sports gambling is the most prevalent wagering activity that African bettors enjoy, but other internet games also have a decent share.
Surprisingly, more wager fanatics are hopping onto online gaming than brick-and-mortar casinos. We delve deeper into Africa’s gambling sect to discover the popularity of online casinos and the reasons that led to this shift.
Gambling in Africa before the introduction of online casinos
Before internet betting was a thing in this jurisdiction, most gambling activities took place in land-based casinos. Unfortunately, these physical gambling spots were few on the continent since gambling wasn’t culturally accepted in some regions of Africa.
Only the most affluent members of society had access to these places, now that brick-and-mortar gambling was an expensive affair. Nonetheless, gambling for charity was a prevalent affair. Wager fanatics could get scratch tickets and wait for particular programs that would read out the winning combination numbers.
Slot machines were also available to the interested members. Clubs and local gaming locations would purchase these slots booths and welcome gamblers into these spaces.
Considering that slot machines were expensive at the time, not so many towns had these provisions. But as the economy of Africa increased, so did the number of clubs that provided slot machines to their clients.
Table games like poker were also prevalent, now that all that the club needed was a table, dice, and a stack of cards. Poker players would participate in tournaments organized by these local club owners as often as available. A majority of the poker gamers were amateurs, but as time went by, they gained experience, learned the rules, and thrived in this niche.
However, developed countries like South Africa had access to top-notch casinos thanks to the settlement of white people in the region. Unfortunately, staking was an expensive affair that few Africans could afford, so they engaged in scratch card sweepstakes for the better part of the first two decades of the 21st century.
With the availability of the proper infrastructure, Africa was finally ready to join other gamblers across the globe to gamble on the internet.
Sports gambling
Most African gamblers enjoy watching sports, so it is natural to bet on their favorite games. Sports lovers are fond of watching soccer, making it the sport with the most followers. Before any games, gamblers visit their favorite betting sites to check out their teams’ winning probability.
The players use this information to choose the betting strategies likely to give them the most benefits. Avid gamblers enjoy following local matches in and out of their jurisdiction. However, the English Premier League also has a place in the hearts of African gamblers.
Avid gamblers spend a significant time of their year studying their team’s performance, which allows them to know if they have a chance of winning cash if they bet on their team during the EPL.
Slots
Surprisingly, African bettors enjoy playing slots both online and offline. With the introduction of online slots, the land-based ones lost their luster, thereby kicking investors who had narrowed down their interest in slots out of business.
More players joined internet casinos to bet for real money because of the meager prices they would pay to enjoy slot games. The convenience of internet casinos also contributed to the rise of online gambling in Africa.
When this idea was introduced into the continent, not so many people had smartphones. Nevertheless, they would visit nearby cyber cafes if they needed to wager.
Blackjack
Aside from poker, slot, and sports gambling, blackjack, is among the internet games with straightforward rules, which most gamers can understand effortlessly. Consequently, a large number of players are trying this game.
For the uninitiated, blackjack is played by two people: the gambler and the casino dealer. As a gambler, you want to defeat the dealer so that you can take money home. On the other hand, the house wants to keep winning.
Poker
Before joining a poker table, most gamblers have to give up a certain amount of money that allows them to participate in the game. For most poker players, the amount seemed too high, and the disappointment of losing a game would sink harder because of this factor.
Some of the tables required gamblers to put high stakes on the table, thus ruling out particular people from playing. Thanks to online casinos, players would effortlessly join a table they could afford to pay for. For novice gamers, a vast bankroll meant they could play the game as many times as they could until they grasped its concept.
Mobile gaming
Initially, players would go to cyber cafes to wager. These were the only places with an affordable and stable internet connection that players would utilize for their gambling activities. When mobile gambling was introduced, the number of players increased significantly, now that they could effortlessly wager in the comfort of their homes and workplaces round the clock.
Today, close to 2% of gamblers across the globe are in Africa. Local establishments take the most share in the provision of wagering activities to the betting community. But, international entities are slowly creeping into the gambling market in this region.
Bottom Line
Africa is still a far cry from catching up with other bettors across the globe. Most Saharan nations only allow tourists and visitors to engage in gambling activities within their spheres. Sub-Saharan countries in the continent aren’t opposed to this phenomenon because of their governments’ monetary kickbacks from internet gambling.