eSports and iGaming have experienced exponential growth in recent years. Advanced mobile accessibility, modern tech developments and a growing population of younger generations of tech-savvy players combine perfectly to drive an increasing demand for iGaming.
According to Statista, the eSports worldwide market is projected to deliver close to US$5billion in revenue in 2025. While the US currently has the largest population of players, many other countries are experiencing high rates of growth, including South Africa.
In South Africa, revenue from eSports is projected to hit almost $US30million in 2025, with an expected growth rate of close to US$5million over the next four years. The addition of local game servers in South Africa have enabled the capability to deliver a reliable, high-quality gaming experience and the development of broadband networks has also been integral to the growth.
Government-Driven Participation
With the eSports and iGaming industry representing such a high revenue in the country, the government has helped further drive participation with national events and competitions run by Mind Sports South Africa and the Confederation of African eSports.
The possibility of turning professional at eSports is a dream for many South African players and with increasing sponsorship deals and other investments, it is becoming a bigger reality.
iGaming Market Growth Forecast
The iGaming market in South Africa has also experienced exceptional growth, with slightly over 50% year-on-year revenue growth for sports betting. The legal framework for iGaming has somewhat held the industry back but despite interactive gaming currently being illegal, there is still an increasing demand.
New regulations are expected to come into force to legalize online casinos in the near future, with the expectation that this will provide a springboard for continued progress.
Developments in the iGaming Industry in South Africa
With over 30 licensed online sports betting sites now available in South Africa, operators have been introducing constant improvements to enhance the playing experience:
Advanced Security
Security has been a major concern for many people when using sites with financial transactions, so addressing this with advanced security features has been essential to the growth. This includes using SSL encryption, firewalls and secure payment gateways.
Some online casinos in South Africa also offer the option to make payments through crypto currency, to provide advanced security as well as privacy to players.
More Games with Bigger Payouts
One of the key marketing strategies to attract new players to iGaming is advertising the big prizes that can be won. iGaming platforms in South Africa have been increasing the number of games options and many offer progressive jackpots, displaying the large jackpots that can be won on their site.
There is high demand for casinos that offer good payouts, including the preference for games offering a high RTP (Return to Player), with many games offering over 96% RTP. This information is either displayed on the game provider details or you can find them listed on the best online casino payouts reviews.
Live Dealer Games
Another major milestone in the development of South Africa iGaming platforms was the introduction of live dealer games. Players can enjoy a more immersive experience using a webcam or even a VR headset to interact with the dealer and other players in table games such as poker.
While iGaming has traditionally been focused on individual gaming experiences, live dealer games have ensured that iGaming can be sociable for players who want to join in live chats and make online friends who enjoy playing the same games.
Mobile Optimisation
With the huge majority of iGamers preferring to access their favourite games using their mobile, online casino operators have been focusing on providing a better user experience from mobile devices. Many online casinos in South Africa have developed dedicated apps that provide the same game quality and options as the desktop versions.
Mobile optimisation and responsive website designs that allow players to switch across different devices have helped to maintain strong growth in the online casino industry.
Personalised Experiences
Another important development, leveraging the latest technology is the use of AI and machine learning to provide a more personalised experience for iGamers. For example, players can receive personalised game recommendations based on playing history and favourite game genres, average session times etc. Lots of online casinos also offer personalised rewards to increase player loyalty, such as providing free spins on the player’s favourite games, rather than providing generic bonuses and promotions to everyone.
The eSports and iGaming industries in South Africa are growing at pace and there is huge potential for further development across both sectors. With new generations of tech-savvy people now exploring the excitement of iGaming and eSports, growth is set to continue as operators will keep introducing developments to ensure player expectations are met.
