There’s a common misperception that winning or losing at the casino is not by chance, and that casinos have the ability to rig the outcome. But, Thapelo Modise, Marketing Manager at The Ridge Casino says that in South Africa where the casino industry is heavily regulated, chance rules whether you win or lose – not the casinos.

“South Africans actually enjoy utmost protection against unethical practices because the country’s casino industry is heavily regulated - perhaps one of the most tightly-controlled in the world. “Licensed casinos can only offer exactly what they’re supposed to, games of pure chance and some skill in varying degrees. Neither the tables nor the slot machines can be randomly manipulated to alter the odds.  That they can be is a myth that is likely to have perpetuated from the days of illegal gambling ‘joints’ prior to the new, post-apartheid gaming dispensation,” she says.

Not just anybody can open a casino in South Africa. The application process to operate a casino is exceptionally stringent and actually getting a licence is no mean feat. The number of licences granted per province is limited and is determined by national legislation. When a licence is available it is granted based on a competitive and transparent bid process.

Implementing a licence after it’s been granted is equally rigorous. The process is legislated by the National Gambling Act and relevant provincial gaming boards. Thereafter, casinos are monitored through internal control procedures, electronic monitoring systems, as well as surveillance measures to ensure the integrity of gaming operations.  It is also externally audited by the regulators.

On the casino floor the software used on every slot machine is SABS-certified to perform within specifications and the machine’s computer chip is sealed before installation.  Similarly, the tables cards and roulette tables are subject to intense scrutiny and monitoring, both internally and by external authorities. 

“So, if you are gaming at a licensed casino, you can be assured that all wins on both the slots and the tables are completely random. Random wins are what casinos are about and that’s what appeals to most people who see it as a form of entertainment where the main goal is to have fun and possibly win some money,” says Thapelo.

Click here to download a brochure to further help dispell myths around gaming at The Ridge Casino.