Online casinos accepting players from Swaziland

Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Also referred to as the Kingdom of Eswatini, is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast. It is one of the smallest countries in Africa. Online casino gambling is legal in Eswatini/Swaziland. There are no restrictive legislations for online betting platforms, so consumers can place bets on local and foreign gambling websites.

On the other hand, countries with a weaker or incomplete regulatory framework for the gambling sector are often targeted by foreign operators with not-so-honest intentions. Situations such as heavy or unjustified restrictions on bonuses, refusal to pay winnings, and poor customer service are just some of the issues that usually come along when interacting with such companies. Luckily, such “bad guys” are outnumbered by trustworthy online casinos famous for fair business practices and quality services.

For that reason, players should be fully familiar with the laws, regulations, and available player protection measures, so as to know what to do in case an issue emerges. That’s precisely what this guide will introduce you to, plus some helpful tips on choosing an online casino.

Laws and Regulations

Gambling in Eswatini/Swaziland falls under the Ministry of Tourism, Environmental Affairs and Communication. This institution is in charge not only of formulation and monitoring the implementation of tourism policies but licensing and regulation of the gaming sector as well.

The legal framework relies upon three main laws:

• Casino Act of 1963
• Lotteries Act of 1963
• Bookmakers’ and Taxation Act of 1970

There’s also the Eswatini Gambling Laws and Regulations of 2022, whose principles and guidelines are yet to become effective. It’s important to bear in mind that the entire sector of digital entertainment is still in process of development, which means plenty of updates and changes will take place in the upcoming period.

Applications for licenses are received and processed all year round. Interested companies submit their applications through the Gaming Board Secretariat in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, stressing out whether a license is needed for casino or lottery services. No fee is required. Certificates are renewed every 10 years.

Despite being a small country, in terms of territorial size, Eswatini, former Swaziland has a couple of land-based casinos. One of them is Royal Swazi Spa and Casino, which opened in 1965, holding the reputation of one of the oldest casinos not only in the region but in the world as well.

Player Protection and Responsible Gambling Measures

In March 2022, the country made a giant step forward in making the environment more responsible for players. New Eswatini Gaming Control Board was launched, aiming to establish firm principles based on which the sector will be governed. The Board will be appointed for three years, aiming to upgrade the current regulatory framework.

However, there’s still no institution in charge of helping players in case they are having a problem with a casino, or the one in charge of assisting those who are experiencing gambling-related issues. Consumers are more or less on their own, but luckily, there are plenty of tools that can be of great help.

Every online casino which sticks to itself should have a well-equipped responsible gambling page with deposit limits, loss limits, and similar tools which allow consumers to organize their spends. Also, some operators offer a reality check, so that consumers can keep track of the time they spend playing games.

Furthermore, a large number of operators have cool-off and self-exclusion, so that customers can take a break for a specified period of time. Some even have links to helpful organizations which are trained to provide assistance to consumers who are dealing with gambling-related harms.

On top of that, players should always pay attention to the customer support department. It is a direct channel of communication with a casino (ideally three of them- live chat, email, and phone) that enables consumers to resolve the problem. It’s nice to know that there’s a dedicated team of professionals on the other side of the line, in case there’s a question related to payments, ID verification, or anything else.

Payment Methods and Banking

The official currency of Swaziland is the lilangeni (SZL), issued by the Central Bank of Eswatini and authorized by the king and his family. Other than this, the South African rand, or ZAR for short is accepted as well, which is great news for fans of online gambling. No casinos support SZL, at least we couldn’t discover any, but a large number of operators accept ZAR .

At the time of writing this article, cryptocurrencies were still classified as non-regulated in the country, yet some players use them when gambling on the internet. However, during an economic forum held in 2017, the Central Bank of Swaziland (CBS) chief noted that “it may not be wise to dismiss virtual currencies”, but instead focus on learning more about that “innovation”, as he called it.

What Should Players from Eswatini Pay Attention to When Selecting a Casino?

We can all agree that the vast majority of online gambling platforms look attractive on the surface, but it doesn’t mean that they are equally promising on the inside.

It’s each player’s duty to inspect a bit, and find the answers to the following questions:

• Is the casino licensed? Does it have approvals from test labs or some RNG certificates?
• What’s the selection of payment methods like? What are the min/max limits for deposits and withdrawals? Is there a fee? What about pending and processing time?
• Is it necessary to verify identity when depositing or before withdrawing? If so, what kind of documents are required?
• How well-equipped is the portfolio? How many games and providers are featured in the lobby?
• Are there bonuses and promotions? How reasonable are the wagering requirements? Is there any Loyalty program?

This inspection procedure should be applied whenever a player is presented with a new casino. After a couple of platforms, one will gain the necessary experience to make the difference between a good and bad operator faster.

Always read the Terms and Conditions and gamble responsibly!

FAQ

Is it legal to gamble online in Eswatini?

Yes, it is legal to gamble online in Eswatini. Plenty of online casinos accept players from this region, offering them the possibility to place bets in South African rand (ZAR), which is also officially accepted in the country.

What are the most popular online casino games in Eswatini?

Slots are widely played among locals but are not the only popular genre. Players also like to check out table games such as Roulette, Blackjack, and Poker.

Is demo play available in Eswatini -friendly online casinos?

Of course, players from Swaziland can explore games in fun mode. In most cases, no registration is required, but in certain situations, it is necessary to create an account prior to being able to access fun play.

Can players from Eswatini gamble on mobile devices?

Yes, local players can gamble on portable gadgets such as smartphones and tablets while out and about. The only requirement is a stable internet connection so that playing sessions can run smoothly.

What kind of online casino bonuses can players from Eswatini claim?

The selection depends from one casino to another, but most commonly those are welcome bonuses, match bonuses, cashback offers, free spins, and similar.