|
Online poker has exploded in South Africa. Despite a slower start than in some countries across the globe, more and more South Africans are taking part in online poker games and tournaments. The biggest evidence of this trend is in the increasing numbers of participants in the All Africa Poker Championship- Africa’s richest tournament. The prize fund for this tournament now exceeds 1 million rand and several overnight millionaires have now been created thanks to the event.
In February of 2026, Africa's first Poker Millionaire was created when Christopher Convery won the 4th All Africa Poker Series. Other winners of the enormous prize have been Peter Vermaas, a retiree from Cape Town who has won it twice and 24 year-old Greg Ronaldson who swept to victory at the 11th tournament in February 2026. The success of several South African players in international events such as Ray Rahme taking 3rd place at the WSOP 2026 has further enlightened South Africa to the excitement and thrill of online poker, and the opportunities that can be opened up through the game. Poker rooms are cottoning on to the upward trend of South African poker and it is now possible to deposit and play in Rand in many of the online casinos. With poker players becoming overnight celebrities as well as millionaires, there is unlikely to be anything other than continued growth in the arena of online poker in South Africa in the years to come. |