The Best Online Casino in South Africa

Is Online Gambling Regulated in South Africa?

This is where things start to get a little tricky when it comes to online casinos in South Africa. Up until 2008, online gambling was unregulated across South Africa. Everything changed with the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG) being passed, banning all forms of online gambling with the exception of sports betting. Although at the time this treaty was signed by all 16 states in South Africa, in 2012  Schleswig-Holstein opted out and issued licenses to over 30 operators including 888. Even though a change in governs meant that this only lasted a year, the casinos given licenses were allowed to provide real money casino games for 6 years as per the contract they had agreed to.

As things stand today, online gambling is prohibited across South Africa and there is no way to obtain a license. This said, their laws go against EU regulations focused on free trade and we wouldn’t be surprised if they were made to change things in the near future. In the meantime, authorities don’t seem to be enforcing the law when it comes to placing bets online. In fact, online gambling is extremely popular in South Africa and players are looking to foreign casinos. And being such a big target market, South African players can rest assured that foreign operators are going to great lengths to optimise their website for them both in terms of language options and also exclusive bonuses as well as payment methods.

What Casino Games are Popular Among South African Players?

When it comes to online gambling, there is a huge range of games to choose from including slot machines, roulette, blackjack, video poker and more. Luckily foreign casinos focusing on the South African market have made these fully available to players in South Africa.  So what sort of games do players look for? As is the case with other markets, slots are definitely calling the shots and with a variety of top game providers to choose from including Microgaming and Yggdrasil Gaming, the range of slots is quite impressive. What makes them even more popular is the fact that casinos often offer free spins; this is especially true for the Netent favourite ‘Starburst’.

Although slots make up the bulk of most casino game libraries, table games are another winner amongst players due to them being a closer representation of a real-life casino. Again, there is a wide range of games to choose from but at the top of the list, you can expect to find Roulette and Blackjack which both exist in various forms.  If this wasn’t enough, most casinos also offer a live dealer section with all of your favourite table games available for real-time play. This is especially popular amongst players who enjoy interacting with others.

Nowadays, the possibilities are virtually unlimited as far as online casinos and their gaming options are concerned. In fact, as well as a large selection to choose from you can expect to find all of these games fully optimised for mobile play. This is great news for South African players who have long commutes to work for instance.

Novomatic - Once the Uncrowned King of Casinos

Previously Novomatic was one of South Africa’s largest land-based gambling operators but this all changed in 2017. As seen previously, online gambling in South Africa is quite a grey area and all this uncertainty left companies like Novomatic doubtful about whether to invest in a market with such high risks. Mind you, this wasn’t the first company to move out of South Africa, just a few months before, major competitor Gauselmann also banned use of their online casino subsidiary  -Merkur Gaming’s content in South African casinos for real money gaming offer.  Initially, this was quite a huge blow for local casinos, for instance, mybet’s once Novomatic exclusive live casino had to be shut down. Nowadays though there is still a huge range of software providers to choose from for South African players including gaming giants Evolution.

Play'n Go's Flagship - Book of Dead

With the exit of Novomatic from South African markets, came the rise of Play’n Go, one of the leading game providers on the market. Having signed an agreement with GLC Holdings in 2018, players from South Africa can make full use of their massive game portfolio. If you’re a regular player at online casinos then you have definitely heard of their famous slot ‘Book of the Dead’. Despite being a leading specialist in both table games and slots, not even Play’n’ GO could have predicted the success of their Ancient Egyptian themed slot. Many could say that it falls into the same category as Novomatic’s famous slot Book of Ra, but with the graphics are much better. Of course, when it comes to players, it's all about the free spins feature when it comes to extra winnings, but the video slot is also a real eye-catcher and fun. Also, if you're keen on really high wins, you can actually win half a million rand when playing with the highest stakes. If players were looking for a good alternative to Book of Ra, they definitely got it and much more with this slot!

Gambling Classics - Win Real Money with Blackjack and Roulette!

Although slots get a lot of attention nowadays especially due to their free spins as well as favourable wagering requirements which makes them an easier way to win real money online, no-one ever forgets the classics. Furthermore, table games are a better representation of real-life casinos and with online casinos upping their game in terms of security and fairness, these are also extremely popular amongst players. Roulette is definitely one of the most popular and you can expect to find over 10 different varieties to choose from including Deutsche Roulette.

Being a game which goes beyond just luck, Blackjack is another favourite and what's more, is that nowadays casinos are starting to incorporate bonus offers into this game too.  This is definitely the top played card game in the world both online and also in actual casinos. With both blackjack and roulette being extremely popular, it's no surprise that online casinos have focused on optimising them fully for mobile so that players can take their favourite games anywhere with them. What's more, is that most casinos will offer a live dealer section with even more varieties of these games to choose from as well as VIP tables for their most esteemed clients. The limits tend to be quite high too which is a huge plus for high rollers looking to win real money fast.

Recommended Deposit Methods

A casino can have a great game section and bonus offerings to write home about but if they don’t provide adequate payment options then you might as well look elsewhere. Due to the huge number of payment service providers, it is difficult to keep track, especially when it comes to security and reliability. There are also questions about the speed of the transfer, fees incurred and, above all, the security of the credit balance and your own data. We’ve come up with the list below which highlight the top 7 deposit methods you want to be considering:

1. PayPal
2. Credit Cards (VISA & Mastercard)
3. Sofort
4. GiroPay
5. Skrill
6. NETeller
7. Trustly

In some cases, the methods above are also available for withdrawal.

Best PayPal Gambling Sites in South Africa

When it comes to the world of online gaming, PayPal is the ultimate seal of approval in terms of how safe your casino is. Previously,  players in South Africa would immediately know that an online casino had a South African license if it offered PayPal. Nowadays, with online casinos no longer being based out of South Africa, PayPal is not a thing anymore for South African casino players. If you enjoy sports betting though, you’ll still be able to make use of PayPal and with some casinos even offering bonuses on PayPal deposits.

There are very good reasons to use PayPal as a means of payment when the online casino offers it. Simple, convenient and safe are the best combination and make up the core values of the company. In the end, money is sent from one e-mail address to another which can then be played in real money at the casinos.

Play with Online Casino Bonuses 

A casino’s bonus offering is what sets it aside from its competitors and even though it can seem simple at first, with so many different types of bonuses out there, a lot of which with many restrictions in the fine print, it's easy to get caught out. Players in South Africa are big fans of the various bonuses casinos offer and whether you’re an existing player or new to the casino you can expect to see a variety of no deposit bonuses, free spins, cash back bonuses, reload bonuses etc. It's always important to check out the terms and conditions in each case as these will have a huge impact on how good a deal you’re actually getting. You’ll also want to look out for any bonus codes hidden in the terms.

Free Spins

With a name like that, it's no surprise that free spins bonuses are constantly sought out by players. In simple terms, the casino is basically offering you the opportunity to test the slot machine out for ‘free’. We have used inverted commas here since this type of bonus can come in two forms either as a deposit bonus whereby players must actually make a deposit in order to benefit from the free spins bonus or no deposit. It's no surprise that the latter is more popular, especially amongst new players looking to try out the actual slot machine.  One thing to keep in mind are the specific terms and conditions that come with the specific bonus especially the actual wagering requirements. Free spins are one reason why slots have become so popular and we take a look at some of the top slot games offering this bonus below.

Book of Dead

We have already taken a look into Play’n’ GO’s popular Ancient Egyptian themed slot and how it has become a good replacement of Novomatic’s Book of Ra for players in South Africa. In fact, it tells a similar story but has much more to offer in terms of features and bonuses. You can expect to find free spins bonuses at all of the top casinos with ones like LeoVegas Casino and Vera & John Casino even offering no deposit free spins.

Starburst Slot

If you’re a die-hard classics fan, then you’ll be happy to know that Netent favourite Starburst is also known for offering no deposit free spins. If you’re a player from South Africa then you’re definitely going to want to check out some of the two casinos such as Rizk and Dunder as they tend to incorporate free spins into both no deposit bonuses as well as deposit bonuses such as match or reload. Genesis Casinos is also a great one to check out with 300 free spins up for grabs!

Welcome Bonus Packages

First impressions count right? It is no surprise that a lot of casinos are turning their focus on offering very lucrative welcome bonuses for new players. But is the deal as sweet as it actually sounds? Below we take a look at what some of our favourite casinos are offering new players from South Africa.

888casino

Being considered one of the founding fathers of the online casino industry, it's no surprise that 888casino offers new players one of the more generous bonuses. South African players are in for an even bigger treat due to the exclusive offer we have with them whereby players will get R1,800 for free just for registering. As if this wasn’t enough there’s a further deposit bonus of up to R30,000.  

At this stage, it's important to point out that you’ll need to include the respective 888casino bonus code in order to benefit from this.

Unibet Casino

Unibet is another casino with a great welcome bonus of 100% up to R2,000 for new players. To top it all off the casino will add on 10 free spins as soon as you make your first deposit. Although at first glance it might seem less generous, the fair sale conditions make this one you’re going to want to check out.

LeoVegas

Another reputable casino, LeoVegas is the third on our list due to it offering new players the chance to win up to R14,000 in bonus money. It also offers 20 no deposit free spins on Book of Dead.

Responsible Gambling in South Africa

With online casinos always looking to make things more fun for players, it's easy to get addicted.  We, therefore, recommend that you play responsibly at all times and keep it fun. Below we have listed some independent organisations that can help in cases of addiction:

1. Fachverband Glücksspielsucht eV
2. Spielsucht-Therapie.de
3. Gamblers Anonymous South Africa

Online Gambling South Africa FAQs