Since the pandemic, online casinos have taken the South African public by storm. More people than ever are now betting from the comfort of their homes with a huge selection of betting sites now available. Punters can now bet on all their favourite games from the physical casinos like slots and all the table games like Roulette, Blackjack and Poker. The online casinos also offer a range of promotions that are not available at the traditional casinos like welcome bonuses and other bonuses like deposit match offers.
What are online casinos
Online casinos are websites or apps where you can play different casino games like slots, roulette, blackjack, and poker on the internet. These casinos were not very popular in the past because all the games were computerised, so some players didn’t trust them. All that has changed in recent years as the gaming companies like Evolution, Scribe and NetEnt made them better by adding live dealers for games like Roulette, Poker and Blackjack.
How do I choose the best online casino site?
There are literally hundreds of online sites that are available for punters so choosing the best site is a daunting task. We have taken the time to research the best South African casino sites using our strict criteria. These are some of the factors we considered before ranking an online casino site.
Legality of the betting site
It’s super important to use a legal and licensed online casino. Before signing up, make sure to check if the site is properly licensed. Legal and regulated online casinos follow strict rules for fair games and payouts so you can trust that you’ll get your winnings. The betting site must hold a licence from one of the provincial gambling boards in South Africa.
Choice of games
When choosing an online casino, the variety of games is really important. The best casinos have lots of top-quality slots from well-known gambling software makers. If a casino only has a few unknown games, it’s probably best to avoid it. There should be various options of table games and also live dealer games which are most popular.
Positive player reviews
Player reviews are really important for a good casino. It’s smart to choose one with high ratings from players. But don’t just rely on those reviews alone. Some casinos might pay for good reviews, so it’s a good idea to check reviews from different places to get a clearer picture.
Bonuses offered for new and existing players
There is huge competition among betting sites to attract new players therefore they are offering amazing Welcome Bonuses and other promotions. This must be used to your advantage as you must look for casinos that offer you the biggest welcome bonuses, and examine and compare the reward programmes.
Customer support
Before signing up with an online casino, it’s a good idea to check their customer support. See how quickly they respond to your questions. If they have live chat, that’s usually a good sign. You should get a response pretty fast.
Top Ten Online Casino Sites in South Africa
A team of online gambling experts used the above criteria to rank the best online casino sites in South Africa. These are the top ten sites along with some of the factors that make them so popular:
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Hollywoodbets
Hollywoodbets is the market leader when it comes to casino games thanks in the main to their Spina Zonke range of games. They offer games from all the leading gaming companies like Pragmatic Play, Evolution and Habanero. They also offer hundreds of different slot games as well as all the favourite table and casino games. Hollywoodbets has exciting variations of popular games like Roulette with large jackpots attached to them. They also have weekly and monthly Spina Zonke jackpots that go as high as R3 million.
2. Betway
Betway was among the first betting sites to offer live casino games on their site and they have gone from strength to strength with their comprehensive selection of live casino games. Betway Casino offers just over 400 games. This selection is mostly slot games but they do also have table games, poker rooms, and a live casino lobby. Most of their games are supplied by games giant Microgaming. Betway Casino is powered by continually updated state of the art software from Microgaming, one of the most trusted names in the industry.
3. Lulabet
LulaBet.co.za casino is really good and has lots of new games and live dealer tables.
You can play different games like slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, and baccarat. In slots, you can play Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Cash Volt, and 777 Strike. For roulette, there’s American Roulette and Lighting Roulette. They have more than 13 types of blackjack. In poker, you can play Texas Hold’em and Casino Hold’em. And for baccarat, there’s Speed Baccarat, Sic Bo, and Bac Bo. Lulabet is one the new betting sites but their range of casino games is exceptional.
4. 10Bet
10Bet may be one of the newer betting sites in the country but they have wasted no time in offering a full range of live casino games. They have all the popular slot games like Double Stack and Scruffy Duck while also having a complete range of table and card games. 10Bet’s games are provided by the industry leading companies like Evolution, NetEnd and Yggdrasil. You are therefore assured of a gaming experience of the highest quality.
5. Play.co.za
Play has an impressive Live Casino under the Live Games tab that includes baccarat, roulette, poker, blackjack, and keno from well-known providers Creed Roomz and Vision Casino. Leading games provide. Evolution has also recently launched their extensive range of games at Play. Fans of lotto games have a world of numbers to choose from in the Lucky Numbers lobby. If you are into playing slots, then you have come to the right place with Play now offering 100s of different slot games as well.
6. Playabets
Playabets have an excellent range of casino games from the popular games like Roulette, Blackjack and Poker to a host of slot games. Part of their welcome bonus is 50 free spins on any Pragmatic slot game. They have recently added the hugely popular Aviator crash game to their offerings but the thing that sets them apart from other sites is the speed of both their main site and their mobile app.
7. Tic Tac Bets
Tic Tac Bets is an exciting online casino offering a variety of thrilling games and a captivating gambling experience. Their goal is to create a platform where players can enjoy their favourite casino games in a safe and easy-to-use environment.The casino is well-known for its wide range of games, including popular titles from trusted software providers. Whether you prefer slots, table games, live dealer games, or specialty games, Tic Tac Bets South Africa has something to suit your taste.
8. Yesplay
Yesplay made their name in the country by having the most extensive Lucky Numbers selection with Lotto draws from around the world available for betting. In recent years they spread their wings to now offer a full range of live casino games. If you choose to play casino games, you will get to play the finest live dealer games from Ezugi, Evolution, and Pragmatic Play, and Pragmatic’s superior slots
9. Fafabet
Fafabet have built an impressive selection of casino games on their site, considering they are one of the newer betting sites on the online market. They have chosen to partner with Aardvark gaming technologies for the vast majority of their games. Fafabet also has games from the more commonly known gaming companies like Evolution and Pragmatic Play. They also have a 25% first bet return on selected casino games for new players.
10. 1xbet
1xbet is one of the international betting sites that has come into South Africa in recent times. They have a great selection of casino games with hundreds of slot games available. 1xbet also has all the traditional casino games like Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat for casino punters. The one glaring omission is the live Betgames. It is hoped they can add this to their selections as it is hugely popular with the locals.
Most popular online games
There are hundreds of different online casino games that players can bet on, ranging from slots to table games and more recently Crash Games. We have found these to be the most popular on the online betting market.
Aviator
This is a crash game that has received rave reviews from across the globe. The game is super easy to play even if you are new to gambling. The aim of the game is to bet on a plane that rises and to cash out before the plane disappears. As the plane goes up, the chances of winning increase because a multiplier goes up too but if you wait too long the plane disappears and you lose your bet. Players can win up to R3 million in one round at Hollywoodbets.
Widest range of slot games
Some of the online casinos have in excess of 500 slot games that players can choose from. Slots are among the most popular games online because there are always exciting promotions like progressive jackpots that players can win.
Blackjack
Blackjack has always been one of the most famous card games and now you can enjoy it from home too. The top online betting sites offer various types of Blackjack games with some even having progressive jackpots linked to players getting a perfect pair. If you’re a fan of Blackjack, online casinos have a lot to offer you.
Roulette
Roulette is perhaps the most well known casino game ever and its popularity is also evident in online casino sites. Roulette players can enjoy special bonuses online, like in Lightning Roulette where you could win 100 times your bet if lightning strikes your chosen number. One great thing about online Roulette is how quickly each round is played unlike in physical casinos where spins can take ages with the dealer clearing the tables.
Live Dealer Games
The live dealer games have revolutionised the online casino industry. Before all the games were automated which players were sceptical to accept but now you can talk to the dealer using live chat. You can also chat with other players which is helpful to see how the game is going before you join. Most popular games like Blackjack, Roulette, and Poker have live dealers at online casinos.
Conclusion about Online Casinos
The most important point is that online casinos are here to stay for a long time. Online gambling sites offer several advantages over traditional land based casinos.They provide enhanced convenience since you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection. Online gambling sites often offer better odds and higher payouts than traditional casinos. They offer a wide variety of games and betting options which cater to different player preferences. Lastly, online gambling sites offer bonuses and promotions that can help players maximise their winnings.
