Whether you’re completely new to real money online casinos gaming or you’re looking to find your next favourite casino site, you’re in the right place to learn all you need to know to make an informed choice. Our CasinoTop has conducted thorough reviews of hundreds of online casino sites in SA, to bring you our list of the very best virtual places and operators. In addition to this, we share what we look for in a great casino, tell you more about the history of online gambling in South Africa and more! Check out our recommended list of online casinos below.
Our list of the best online casinos contains offerings from operators that are dedicated to varied and safe entertainments. Players can enjoy a wide variety of free gaming options from some of the most popular genres. This means that there are free to play modes for traditional table games such as poker, roulette and blackjack.
While our CasinoTop team is always on the lookout for the best online casinos for our South African players, there are times that we come across sites that do not provide sufficient security, banking methods or reasonable support. This can result in our players having a negative gaming experience, which could have an effect on how they view the industry as a whole. To prevent this, we have listed the sites that we believe could do with some improvements and should be avoided below:
If you’re looking for the best online casino sites to join for playing on the go, check out our expert picks of casinos that render well to iPads, iPhones, Androids and tablets.
While playing for free is a great way to get started, the excitement of real money playing is hard to beat. With that in mind, our CasinoTop experts have found the best real money casinos for South African players.
When it comes to payment methods, we know that the most convenient option for many players is PayPal. Take a look at our top-rated PayPal casinos here.
South African’s online gambling industry has been noted for its rapid expansion over the last several years. As a result of this growth, there are new operators and online casino sites entering the market on a daily basis. While the addition of more online casino sites means that there are more options for South African players, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all of these additions to the market are to be trusted or suit your specific gaming needs. Our CasinoTop team looks into the following criteria so that you don’t have to.
We only recommend online casino sites that can prove that they will offer our South African players dedicated support from a team of high-trained and knowledgeable customer service representatives.
While most new players sign up to play their favourite land-based games online, these interests can change at any time. As a result of this, we only recommend online casino sites that offer players a wide variety of games to try and enjoy as their gaming interests and needs change.
We ensure that the sites we recommend provide our South African players with reliable and speedy payout methods that can payout in under a week.
Any online casino site that meets our other criteria and renders seamlessly to mobile devices will receive our endorsement and are likely to make it onto our list of top SA online casinos.
Ensuring that we recommend only secure online casino sites to our South African players is a big part of CasinoTop’s mission. This means that the sites we endorse make use of industry-standard encryption technology and have sufficient security protocols in place.
Generous and reasonable welcome bonuses and promotions that give our South African players more playing value for every rand is exactly what we’re looking for at online casinos.
To find the best online casino sites in South Africa, our team of CasinoTop experts have dedicated hours to thoroughly testing hundreds of online casino sites that operate in the region. Besides looking into how well the site and operator accommodate for South African players, here are some of the other key criteria that we consider:
No online casino site can be considered great without providing its members with many choices and a plethora of new games to try each month. The slot gaming genre is one of the most popular among online players and the only casino sites that we’ve endorsed offer their members the cream of the crop and monthly additions to try.
In addition to slots, traditional gaming enthusiasts should be pleased with the range of blackjack, roulette, poker and even online baccarat that the operator offers. Beyond the number of games on offer, our CasinoTop experts investigate the quality of the titles and how they work to ensure that all is in order before endorsing an online casino site.
Playing your favourite games online should never cause you any stress or difficulty and one of the most stressful aspects of online gaming can be the payment options. Oftentimes, international operators might not offer enough deposit and withdrawal options for South African players. Before we endorse an online casino site, we ensure that the site provides a handful of secure and efficient payment options that South African players are comfortable with.
In most cases, the welcome bonus that online casino sites offer to new players is the reason that many South Africans sign up. While some of these bonuses look great at first, there are many terms and conditions attached to each bonus that can be surprising and even disappointing. To prevent this from happening, our team investigates every bonus on offer at online casino sites in South African and what they promise. If we find that the site doesn’t keep its promise or the terms and conditions unreasonable, we don’t recommend the site to our South African players.
It’s no secret that online players in South Africa are looking for a convenient way to enjoy their favourite casino games. As a result of this, mobile functionality ranks very high on most South African players’ list of requirements for a great online casino site and our CasinoTop experts agree. All of the sites that we recommend render seamlessly to a wide variety of mobile devices, so you never have to miss out even when you’re on the move.
We believe that our South African players should be privy to stellar customer services and support and won’t recommend a casino site that offers anything less. Ideally, all things at an online casino would run smoothly and the information would be concise and comprehensive. However, there are times when small issues arise that could cause confusion. In these moments, we found that there is nothing better than a friendly, knowledgeable and professional support representative to save the day and your gaming experience.
Security is a big deal when it comes to online casino gambling since operators will often request sensitive information about members to ensure that they are above the legal gambling age for their respective regions. In addition to this, online casino sites deal with money and money value, which means that there has to be industry-standard security protocols and technology in place. To protect sensitive data, online casino operators have to prove that they are using the best encryption technology and have security measures in place before we recommend them.
Mobile gaming is often viewed as the latest advancement in the industry and has contributed significantly to the ongoing growth of the online gambling industry. Before the advent of mobile casino sites, online operators marketed and attracted customers based on whether or not they had access to the internet and a PC. These days, most people in the world have access to a mobile device and can access the internet to varying degrees. These advancements in technology and telecommunications have resulted in online casino operators being able to bring South African players their favourite online casino games in the palm of their hands. Since most things can already be done from mobile devices, such as dating, shopping and even banking, the natural next step is being able to play with your mobile device. While this might sound simple and easy to deliver, not all online casino sites provide the same calibre of mobile gaming experience. Our list of recommended mobile casino sites for South African players will ensure that you have an exceptional mobile experience while other sites could make you feel as if you’ve wasted your money and time. In addition to providing great mobile services, the casino sites that we recommend have been checked to ensure that they offer South African players the very best of every service they provide. This means that some sites accept South African rands, provide South African-friendly banking options and offer up a plethora of great games to play, even while on-the-go.
Compared to other countries on the African continent, South Africa has the most lenient laws for in-person gambling. This is likely a result of the love that citizens have shown for games of chance and has resulted in South African having the largest number of brick-and-mortar casinos in all of Africa.
Despite the negative attitude that the government had about gambling, South African lawmakers took a chance on repealing the ban on gambling in 1994. This resulted in the expansion and success of the industry. The National Gambling Act of 1996 then established a licensing system that allows for the National Gambling Board, or NGB, to regulate the industry. In addition to this, the NGB has been tasked with giving the country’s nine provincial governments the power to license both online sportsbooks and land-based casino operators.
In 2004, another National Gambling Act was passed to provide protections against rogue online casino sites and provide assistance for South Africans who are struggling with gambling addictions. However, the attitude towards that 2004 National Gambling Act changed over the years and in 2010, a High Court ruling imposed several restrictions on the online gambling industry.
In 2011, the definitive ban on online casino gambling was lifted and only licensed and regulated sites have been permitted to operate in the region. While South Africa might not immediately come to mind when players think of responsible gambling regions, this jurisdiction has earned a reputation as a responsible jurisdiction for its comprehensive and fair regulations. We ensure that the online casino sites that we recommend adhere to these regulations and only endorse operators that have received the necessary licensing and permissions. This makes the process of selecting an online casino site much easier for our South African players and allows them to choose from our list of recommended sites with confidence.
While we spend many hours reviewing online casino sites to bring you the best, South Africa is home to some great land-based casino gaming options. To learn more about these venues, take a look at our top picks below.
Here at CasinoTop, we endeavour to provide our South African players with all the information they need to choose an online casino site that suits their gaming needs. However, we’ve found that there are several questions that our South African players ask us frequently. Check out the FAQs for online gambling in SA below and our expert answers.
The legal gambling age in South Africa is 18 years or older. However, some operators might request that players be a minimum of 21 years old to sign up for their services.
Yes, you can play online casino games in South Africa for free. The online casino sites that we endorse offer both members and new visitors an opportunity to try a wide variety of the best games for free. If you like the quality of the game and the site, the registration process can be completed in under ten minutes before you can play for real money.
While not all virtual casino sites will offer South African players the ability to play in ZAR, there are a handful of operators that have made sure that the South African Rand is a supported currency. Our list of top casino sites in SA support rands or they cover the currency conversion fees so you don’t have to.
When it comes to popular casino games in South Africa, there’s something for everyone. The most popular games among South African players are slots and live casino games. The variety of slot games include classic three-reel slots, exciting video game titles and even progressive jackpot games. Our recommended site’s live casino game studios include variants of traditional table games, such as baccarat, poker, roulette and blackjack.
Choosing the best payment method will be based on what you find convenient and are comfortable with. As such, our recommended casino sites offer a wide variety of payment methods to give our South African players options. You can choose from traditional payment methods, such as bank transfers, credit card/debit card payments, and even e-wallet services like PayPal.
The best welcome bonus will depend on what kinds of games you enjoy, the terms and conditions, the wagering requirement and the minimum deposit amount required. The casino sites that we have recommended offer players reasonable terms, conditions and requirements and provide lucrative perks that cater to different kinds of online players.
Gold Reef City is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Johannesburg, South Africa. The venue itself is huge and was once an active gold mine. These days, Gold Reef City visitors can play more than 1500 slots and various table games to stand a chance to win their own fortunes. In addition to this, Gold Reef City has a dedicated museum, theme park, food court and the casino is open 24/7.
Located in the North West Province, Sun City Casino is a great gaming venue that attracts tourists and locals alike. The gambling fun at this venue never stops and can be enjoyed around the clock. There are more than 40 gaming tables at Sun City Casino along with 800 slot games scattered throughout the 125 thousand square foot property. If you’re looking to play table and card games, keep in mind that these games are only available from 13h00 every day while slots can be enjoyed 24/7. In addition to this, MVG members who visit Sun City Casino can opt for the VIP experience in a special gaming salon.
Emperor’s Palace is home to more than 60 gaming tables, which includes craps, roulette and blackjack. There are almost 2000 slots for visitors to enjoy, with many different themes and layouts to choose from. This gaming venue is open seven days a week and has a smoking and non-smoking gaming area. In addition to this, Emperor’s Palace has semi-private locations at the Main Casino.
Monte Casino is known as Johannesburg’s favourite land-based casino and attracts many visitors every day due to its size and opulence. There are many gaming tables and slots available to choose from to cater to the large number of players that the venue welcomes. This casino includes a smoking and non-smoking area and even has two casinos that are for smokers. In addition to this, there are VIP rooms that accommodate high stakes players.
The Boardwalk Casino is a great land-based gaming destination for locals and tourists alike and can be found in Port Elizabeth. The casino itself can be found in Nelson Mandela Bay which is extremely popular for holidaymakers. The Boardwalk has the only licensed gaming area in this region and includes a variety of table games and hundreds of slots.
GrandWest Casino, in the Western Cape, is the largest brick-and-mortar casino in South Africa. This gaming venue attracts slots enthusiasts and avid players of table games alike. There are over 2.5 thousand smart card machines at this venue which means that the entire process is convenient and simple. South African players can visit Grand West casino seven days a week and have a plethora of entertainments available for adults, at the casino, and children, with an ice rink, movie theatre and fun land.
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