The Best Live Casino in South Africa
The best live casino sites in South Africa offer an exceptional gambling experience, similar to the one you’d have at land-based casinos. Advanced technology allows live casino game streams to instantly reach players from a studio, giving them an authentic casino experience from the comfort of their homes.
At live online casinos, you don’t only get to play games in real-time, but you’ll be able to interact with real dealers and other players. Games are available in HD day and night, meaning you will always be able to join a table game. Best of all, the biggest and best software developers will power your live game experience.
This guide recommends the best online casino sites for live games and covers everything you need to know. Plus, we share all the exciting features of classic casino games and mobile live casinos. You will also find information on live casino payment methods and gambling restrictions in South Africa.
Our Top Recommended South African Live Casino 2023
How to Find the Best Live Casinos
The best live casinos offer fantastic welcome bonuses and a comprehensive portfolio of live dealer games. Moreover, after signing up, you’ll find ongoing bonuses and promotions. Along with state-of-the-art graphics and compatibility with multiple platforms, many factors help create the best live casino. Here’s a rundown of the criteria you should consider when judging these casinos.
- Variety of Live Dealer Games: First, look at the game selection at the live casino and check whether your favourite table games are available.
- The Live Game Studios: Most online casinos in South Africa don’t host their own live games. They rely on live game studio providers to supply them. Live dealer software providers include Evolution Gaming, Authentic Gaming, Pragmatic Play, EGT Interactive, Ezugi, Playtech, BetGames, Extreme Live Gaming, NetEnt, and Real Dealer.
- Mobile Compatibility: If you enjoy playing on your smartphone, tablet, or iPad, choose live casinos optimised for all devices.
- Bonus Terms and Conditions: Many online casino players select sites based on their bonus offers. If this sounds like you, remember to read the bonus terms before you sign up. The wagering requirements differ from one live casino to the next. On some sites, live games don’t contribute towards the bonus wagering requirements. Find out more about casino bonuses here.
How to Play at a Live Casino Online
Live Casino on Mobile
Installing applications on your mobile device is not necessary to play live casino games. Although many live operators do offer dedicated applications, most of them are available as instant play casinos via your mobile browser. Open the web browser on your device, enter the live casino site address, log in, and start playing. You can also deposit, withdraw, check your transactions, and contact customer support.
All major gaming software companies and live game providers offer adaptable solutions, meaning you can log into your online casino account from any device. The casino and its games will adapt to run on your device. It doesn’t matter what operating system your computer or mobile device runs on since most live casinos in South Africa support Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
Types of South African Live Casino Games Available
Casino players have plenty of options regarding live games in South Africa. With so many live games available, it might be hard to pick only one option. The decision of which online casino to choose often comes down to the live game providers. Some live casino providers have dedicated studios where games are streamed, while others stream games from famous land-based casino venues worldwide.
On the other hand, some players will choose a live casino based on their favourite games and whether or not these are available at a site. South African players’ most popular live casino games are classic table games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and craps. Players in SA are also jumping on the live game show bandwagon and enjoying games like Monopoly Live, Crazy Time, Cash or Crash, Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt, and Lightning Dice.
Let’s take a closer look at the most popular types of live casino games. And if you want to check out our list of new casinos with live games, click here.
Live Poker Games
Different poker variants have different rules. The rules may also differ slightly from one live casino games provider to the next. Casino hold 'em is a popular version of live poker in South Africa. It requires you to play against the house, not against other players. You and the dealer are dealt two cards each then three community cards are then dealt. These three cards complete the hand for you and the dealer. You can choose to call or fold based on your five-card hand.
Live Blackjack
People enjoy blackjack because it’s one of the few gambling games you can play with a strategy. While you’re never guaranteed a win when you play live casino games, playing with a solid betting strategy can help you maximise your winnings. You can play live blackjack at almost every online casino that offers live dealer games. The goal in blackjack is to get as high a score as possible without going over 21.
Live Roulette
Roulette has been around in various forms for hundreds of years, and it was one of the first games to be implemented in live dealer game portfolios at online casinos. There are three main variations of roulette: American Roulette, French Roulette, and European Roulette, with European roulette being the most played version of the game in South Africa. There is one zero pocket in European roulette. In American roulette, there is a zero pocket and a double zero pocket, which lowers a player’s odds of winning on an American roulette table.
Live Game Shows
Live game shows are making waves in the online casino industry worldwide. When you play live game shows, the dealer may have different duties to when you play live table games. Instead of dealing cards or throwing dice, the live dealer might pick numbers or spin a wheel. Spin the wheel games have become very sought after. Examples include Crazy Time by Evolution Gaming, Mega Wheel by Pragmatic Play, and Fortune Finder by Real Dealer Studios.
Why You Should Play at a Live Casino
Live casinos have an energy that makes them unique from regular online casinos. Most live games are produced and streamed in special studios, and there are other features you can find, which we’ve listed below.
Live Game Bonuses and Promotions
Online casinos that provide live games usually offer the same welcome bonus across the board. However, live games contribute generally less towards the wagering requirements of these bonuses than other games like slots.
Various Payment Methods
The payment methods available for deposits and withdrawals at regular casinos are the same for live casinos. An online casino won’t restrict your payment methods when you play live dealer games.
Security
Security remains unchanged when you head over to the live casino area. If you’re playing at a properly licensed online casino, you can expect top-of-the-line SSL encryption.
Game Fairness
The games are live, so you can see how the cards are dealt and how the balls fall in real-time. Fairness is guaranteed at licensed providers using the best live game studios.
Great Atmosphere
It’s easy to see why live casinos are so popular. The dealers are well-trained, professional, friendly, and very approachable. They greet you by name when you join a game, lead the games confidently, and respond quickly when you ask them a question.
Casino Payment Method Options
PayPal Casino
PayPal is a well-known brand and the world's largest e-wallet, with over 360 million active users. It is available at some of the best online casinos in South Africa. To complete deposits using PayPal, you must first create a free PayPal account and link it to your bank account or credit card. After this, you can use it to deposit and withdraw at live casinos that support PayPal.
Neteller Casino
Neteller is a virtual wallet and is a well-known live casino payment method in SA. You need to register a free Neteller account before you can get started depositing and withdrawing at Neteller casinos. To make casino deposits, there must be funds in your Neteller account. Neteller employs encryption protocols to protect your transactions and financial details.
E-wallets
E-wallets are popular payment methods for online casino transactions because deposits and withdrawals are virtually instant. Neteller is an e-wallet, also known as a virtual wallet. Other reliable e-wallets include Skrill and ecoPayz. You can think of virtual wallets (or e-wallets) as regular wallets you keep online. You can top them up, save money in them, and spend the money online.
Paysafecard
Paysafecard is a prepaid card that can be used to make transactions at online casinos. It’s a voucher with a specific value and a 16-digit pin. Until recently, it could only be used for casino deposits. However, Paysafecard is rolling out a virtual wallet product that allows players to store their vouchers online and receive payments.
Visa
Visa is the most popular card in South Africa. Over 51% of South African cardholders have a Visa card, so it’s no surprise that most of the best live casino sites offer Visa as a payment method to South African players. To deposit with Visa, you will be required to enter your card number, expiry date, and CVV number to complete the transaction.
Skrill
Skrill is an e-wallet formerly known as Moneybookers. It’s a fast, convenient, and secure way of transferring money to and from online casinos. Skrill lets South African players store their money online in South African Rands. All you need to deposit and withdraw at online casinos is your Skrill email address and password. Transactions are instant and secure.
Pay By Phone
Pay by phone is a payment method that is gaining traction in Canada, Europe, and the UK. It can currently only be used to deposit at online casinos. For prepaid phone users, the values of their casino deposits are deducted from their prepaid balances. Casino deposits for contract phone customers are added to their phone bills.
Pros and Cons: Live Casino
Live online casinos have many benefits over land-based casinos. However, they also have some drawbacks when compared to regular online casinos. Consider these pros and cons before playing at a live casino.Pros
- Online live casinos offer flexibility and convenience. You can play from home or anywhere else at any time – 24 hours a day. You can access live casinos on almost any device with an internet connection
- You can easily and quickly access thousands of live online casino games. The best live casinos in South Africa have numerous tables so you won't have to wait long for seat
- At online live casinos you can ask the real dealers questions and they’ll answer you immediately
- You get all the immersive experience of a land-based casino but with a wider range of bet sizes. Players who prefer placing low bets are equally as welcome as high rollers at online live casinos
Cons
- You can’t try the live casino games for free at most online casinos as you can with slots and regular tables
- You need to have a good internet connection with a decent speed to be able to experience online live casinos to their fullest potential
- Live casino games can be more expensive than slots and regular tables
- If you’re not at home or in a public space, you may need to put on your headphones to hear what the live dealers are saying
Laws and Restrictions
Online gambling is illegal in South Africa unless you are gambling at an online site with a license from the National Gambling Board. The National Gambling Act of 2004 is the current legislation enforced in South Africa and does not mention live dealer casino games.
In 2008, The National Gambling Amendment Act was introduced. It was an attempt to legalise interactive gambling in the country, but, unfortunately, the act has not come into power yet.
Illegal interactive gambling in South Africa relates to games of chance such as bingo, poker, and slot machines. This means that online sports betting and horse racing are not prohibited. Fortunately, there are plenty of offshore online casinos accepting players from South Africa with open arms, and these are the ones we recommend in this guide.
Online Gambling Regulations in South Africa
The National Gambling Board manages the entire online gambling market in South Africa and does so to preserve the country’s integrity. However, the board has not done a lot to regulate the industry.
Offshore online casinos offer casino and live dealer games to South African players, and no specific laws ban this. If you live in South Africa, you can play live games at offshore casinos and licensed SA operators with little chance of repercussions.
So, sign up at the recommended casinos on our list above to ensure you can legally enjoy fair, live casino games in South Africa.
FAQs: Live Casinos
Does the live casino have real dealers?
Yes, live online casinos have real dealers that receive professional training as casino dealers. They are well equipped to run the live games, and you can speak to them while playing the live games. The live games are streamed from world-class studios. The games are not recorded – they take place in real-time.
Is there a gambling tax in South Africa?
South Africans are not taxed on their gambling winnings unless they are full-time professional gamblers or meet the minimum annual income threshold to be taxed, and gambling is their only source of income. If you have a regular job and only gamble for entertainment, you won’t be taxed on your winnings.
When do live casino studios open or close?
The best live casinos operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They never close. Some smaller studios may close for a few hours daily, but this is the exception. You will rarely encounter live casino games that aren’t available around the clock.
Is there a live casino no deposit bonus in South Africa?
Yes, many no-deposit bonuses in South Africa can be used to play live casino games. Check out our list of the best live casinos accepting South African players. Most of the bonuses can be used to play regular and live games.
What are the system requirements for a live casino?
The system requirements for live games aren’t much different from those for regular online casino games. Your device must be connected to the internet with decent upload and download speeds. Your device should have at least 256MB of RAM and run on an Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS operating system.