It is 2023, and more than ever, online casinos are becoming increasingly popular with an influx of online gambling enthusiasts who are constantly surfing the internet for the latest and most exciting casino games. Over the years, online casino games have progressed significantly â from traditional land based casinos to online casinos.
Here at PlaySACasinos.co.za, we are bent on helping South African players to find the best online casinos and gambling sites for making real money online. So, if you are looking to sign up with any of the online casinos in South Africa, then you are at the right place! We compile a list of the best South African online casinos, evaluate their customer reviews and bring them to you to aid your decision-making process.
How we review the best online casinos
At PlaySACasinos.co.za, we have a team of experts who are dedicated to offering honest and unbiased reviews of the best South African online casinos. In doing that, several factors are considered, which often include some of the best features of these SA online casinos. Interestingly, our team of review experts comprises online casino enthusiasts and professional South African online casino players who are well acquainted with online casino sites. They know what it takes to rate an online casino among the best online casinos. This allows new customers to easily choose the online casino with the best features and welcome bonuses for South African players.
Licence, safety and reputation
In South Africa, the National Gambling Board is responsible for the oversight of the regulation in the gambling industry throughout the country and to preserve the integrity of South Africa as a responsible global citizen. Accordingly, the NGBâs strategic intent is to sustain and grow its regulatory capability to position South Africa as the pre-eminent jurisdiction with an exemplary and effectively regulated gambling industry.
Gaming laws were first enacted in South Africa in 1965. In 1994, the government of South Africa decided to allow legalised and regulated gambling in the Republic based on a report into gambling, also known as the âWiehahn Commissionâ report. Over the years, the gambling industry has experienced various transformations, including online casino gaming.
In 2003, the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) was launched with South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi as its founding members. It is a body representative of gambling regulators within the African Continent, who aspire to be effective and credible in their regions and continent. The GRAF derives its mandate from a Memorandum of Understanding which prescribes its workings, main objectives and how decisions within the forum are taken.
While it is true that the National Gambling Act of 2004 declared that online gambling is not legal in South Africa, there are still some safe and secure online casino sites that South African casino players can sign up with and play for real money. These online casino games have safe and secure payment methods and are fully licensed and regulated.
New to an online casino? Here’s how to get started in 6 steps:
The Best South African Online Casinos – mini reviews
21.com
Founded in 2018, 21.com is a popular South African online casino that offers over 500 online gambling games. The online casino provides South African players with various welcome bonuses. It allows players to perform deposits and withdrawals using credit/debit cards and online payment gateways, such as Neteller and Skrill.
21.com allows users to play the online gambling game of their choice using an intuitive gaming platform that is designed to suit South African players of all experience levels: from beginners to the more advanced players. The online casino is operated through the sunny rock of Malta by BetPoint and is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). This South African online casino has a homepage that is easy to navigate, thanks to the menu tabs located across the screen. The menu tabs are linked to the essential parts of their website.
Buran Casino
Based in Curacao, Buran Casino is an online gambling site that was launched in 2017. The online casino is owned and operated by the Araxio Development NV company. Their software providers include some of the finest developers in the iGaming industry. The online casino offers a wide selection of online slots and table games, thus allowing users to choose the game of their choice.
Buran Casino provides its new customers with a generous welcome bonus, which could range from a 100% bonus on your first deposit up to âŹ500. As a modern online casino, Buran Casino is available as a desktop application for Windows and Mac computers and a web version that runs directly on modern web browsers â Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox â without downloading or installing any additional software. The online casino site is also mobile responsive, allowing users to access the website through their mobile handheld devices.
Casino Gods
launched in 2019, Casino Gods is an online casino that is bent on establishing a safe and secure online gambling platform for South African players. The online casino is owned and operated by Genesis Global Limited.
With 1100 slots, 50 table games, 500 mobile games, and 86 live games, Casino Gods is undoubtedly one of the best online casinos to look out for. In addition, this online casino is available in various languages â English, Finnish, Norwegian, German and Japanese â and is designed to be easily accessible from desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Casino Gods gives South African players a thrilling gaming experience, thanks to its theme that is replete with graphics, imagery and wording that are designed to transport you to the realm of Greek Mythology. Additionally, Casino Gods offers you a 100% bonus plus additional free spins on the first deposit with no promo code needed.
The casino is fully licensed and regulated by top gaming authorities and owned by the leading iGaming brand â Genesis Global Limited. All player information and transactions are protected by SSL data encryption.
Just Spin
Just Spin is an online casino that was introduced in 2019 and has since grown significantly, making its way to become one of the best South African online casinos. The online casino has won many South African players’ hearts due to its wide range of bonuses, a plethora of games, user-friendly interface, and more.
Interestingly, this South African online casino makes available a demo version of all the games it offers, except the live casino games. The demo mode allows players to play the games without creating an account or depositing real money.
Some of the casinoâs software providers include Gamomat, Quickspin, Microgaming, Lightning Box, Golden Rock Studios, Playân GO, Red Tiger, BTG, Relax, Booming, Stormcraft, Elk, Nolimit, Pragmatic Play, iSoftBet, Betsoft, Push Gaming, Thunderkick, Kalamba, Northern Lights, Golden Hero, Greentube, and many more.
Just Spin offers various banking methods for deposits and withdrawals. Also, a multilingual client support team is available 24/7 to help players with any assistance they may need.
King Billy
Fully licensed and regulated by the Malta Gambling Commission, King Billy is an award-winning online casino in South Africa. They provide players with an avalanche of online casino games to choose from, including Lightning Roulette, Speed Baccarat, Auto Roulette, Live Roulette, Blackjack Blitz, Deal or No Deal, and Lightning Baccarat, amongst others.
King Billy was launched in 2017 and is reputed for being one of the South African online casinos that makes the list of the best online casinos in South Africa. King Billy offers an intuitive website with a clean and user-friendly interface. They also provide competitive welcome bonuses, such as modest 30x wagering requirements.
South African players who bet often could qualify for the casinoâs VIP club, a five-tier program that provides players with weekly cashback, better loyalty point conversion options, wager-free bonuses, free spins and more.
King Billy offers various banking options to choose from, including credit cards, e-wallets like Skrill, and cryptocurrencies. There is an array of online slots, table games, progressive jackpots and live casino variants at King Billy.
Nomini
Established in 2019, Nomini is an online casino for South African players. It is owned by a Cyprus based company known as the Tranello Group. They are licensed and regulated in Curacao. The online casino offers a plethora of online casino games from various software providers, including NĐ”tĐnt, QuŃŃkŃŃŃn, YggdrĐ°ŃŃl, Đ rĐ°gmĐ°tŃŃ Đ lĐ°Ń, Đ lĐ°Ń’n GĐ, ŃĐ ĐŸftĐĐ”t, ĐĐ°bĐ°nĐ”rĐŸ, ĐmĐ°tŃŃ, Đ°nd ĐgrĐŸŃĐŸft.
Nomini is aimed at providing South African players with the best online casino experience. From a selection of over 4,000 slots and table games to various tournaments, Nomini offers a full dose of entertainment to online casino enthusiasts.
They provide players with various banking methods for account deposits and withdrawal purposes. Their online gambling platform can run directly on modern web browsers without downloading or installing additional software. The online casino also offers exciting welcome bonuses and various essential offers, including an extensive game library.
Here’s how to open an account in less than three minutes!
Time needed:Â 3 minutes.
- Check the casino requirements:
Before opening a South Africa’s online casino account, you must be familiar with their requirements, such as minimum deposit requirements and accepted banking methods. You should also check details such as licensing, software, bonuses, games, customer support, ownership, and so on.
- Visit the registration page:
Next, you should visit their registration page, where you will be prompted to enter personal details such as name, address, e-mail address, password, and so on. Then, all you have to do is fill in the details as quickly as possible and submit them.
- Opt-in for the bonus:
After registering, ensure you accept the bonuses that the online casino offers. Some casino sites also provide attractive no-deposit bonuses in the form of free spins or bonus cash. You can claim this bonus even before you make your first deposit.
- Submit your personal and contact details:
On the registration page, you have to submit your basic personal and contact details: Name, Surname, Residential Address, Pincode, Date of Birth, E-mail ID, and your favourite banking methods.
- Complete the e-mail or SMS verification:
To authenticate the registration process, you will have to visit your inbox and check for an e-mail from the online casino. Then, you are required to click on the link in the online casinoâs e-mail to confirm your e-mail address.
- Confirm your account details:
Finally, you need to deposit funds to start playing for real money online. To do that, you will be required to confirm your account details and choose secure banking methods.
Casino Bonuses – Increase Your Chances With The Best Rewards!
Deposit and Withdrawal Methods in South African Casinos
One of the most important essential features of online South African casinos is having the ability for players to deposit and withdraw funds to and from their accounts quickly, safely, efficiently and reliably every time. While South African online casinos offer many banking options, it is best to choose the banking method that best suits you. In doing that, various factors should be considered, and they include the cost of using the particular payment method, reliability of the method, including whether the banking method is provided by a reputable institution, and how easy the method is to use.
As a result, most South African online gambling sites are bent on providing their players with a wide selection of payment or banking options. The quicker and more efficient a payment method, the greater the likelihood that players from South Africa will return to the gaming site and make repeat deposits.
Some of the most popular payment methods available in online casinos in South Africa include the following:
| â Credit Cards | Visa and Mastercard |
| â Transfer Options | Easy EFT,SID, Instant EFT,Wire Transfer |
| â E-Wallet Options | Skrill, Neteller,ecoPayz |
| â Cryptocurrency Options | Bitcoin |
Top Rated Online Slots in SA Casinos:
Popular Casino Games in SA Casinos
Online Slot
- Classic Slots: Classic Slot is an online video slot that operates using the same pay lines and playing style of land based casino slot machines.
- 3D Slots: These are the type of online slots that offer exceptional 3D graphics, making the screen look as real as possible.
- Video Slots: Video slots are the most popular of all casino games, and they offer about 4-6 reels and a set number of pay lines.
- Progressive slots: As the name implies, this is one of the popular slot games in SA online casinos, and it offers jackpots that increase every time someone makes a bet up until someone wins, and then its resets to the starting value.
- Megaways Slots: These are unique game dynamics that make each betting round a guessing game by randomising the number of ways to win on each spin.
Roulette
Launched in the 18th century in France, Roulette is a gambling game in which a ball is dropped onto a wheel with numbered holes while the wheel is spinning around. The players bet on which hole the ball will be in when the wheel stops spinning. The mechanism of this online gambling game is a hybrid of the gaming wheel invented in 1720 and the Italian game Biribi.
Roulette players can choose from various bets that combine colours, numbers, or combinations of both to determine the possibility of wins. Roulette is best suited for players who are looking to try their hands on table games. It is important to note that Roulette is a game of chance, and as such, it is a thrilling game with multiple opportunities to win cash. It is also available as mobile casino gaming, allowing players to spin the wheel, bet on their lucky numbers, and stand a chance to win a massive prize payout, even while on the go.
Blackjack
Apart from being one of the popular games in SA online casinos, Blackjack is straightforward to play and comes with one of the most incredible odds in the gaming world. Furthermore, the Blackjack game can be played with one, two, four, six, or eight decks of cards. Hence, it is best suited for online gambling enthusiasts who are good at card counting.
Blackjackâs origin can be traced back to France in the 1700s. However, its popularity in recent years can be attributed to its various benefits â ease of play, fantastic bonuses and promotions, solid security, fast payouts, and three-to-one payout that allows a player to win the round whenever he gets a blackjack directly.
Blackjack is also a social game since it can be played along with interaction amongst all the players. This adds a socialistic aspect to it, thus making it even more popular. Unlike other casino games that are based on chance, the Blackjack requires mastery of a good level of skills and strategies. To effectively play this game, you should be able to make the right decision at the right time.
Poker
This is another South Africa online casino gambling that has experienced amazing popularity in recent years. Poker is a card game that requires players to determine which hand is best depending on the game’s specific rules. It comes in various deck configurations, the number of cards in play, the number dealt face up or face down, and the number shared by all players; however, all have rules that involve one or more rounds of betting.
Nowadays, video poker games are available in different shapes and sizes. They are played in most online casinos. Specifically, casino poker refers to a selection of games that are based around playing poker against the house. Some casino poker games use two, three, or five cards. But for a game to be recognised as casino poker, it must at least use the standard ranking of poker hands to determine winners and losers.
Video poker offers an amazing way to use your most strategies and win a lot of cash in the process. However, it is not entirely a game of chance as it requires a good level of skills to succeed in it.
Bingo
Invented in 1929, Bingo is a popular online gambling game that is available in the game collection of most SA online casinos. It is a game of chance where each player matches numbers printed in different arrangements on cards with the numbers the game host draws randomly.
When a player finds the selected numbers that are arranged on their card in a row, they call out “Bingo!” to alert all participants to a winning card, which prompts the game host to examine the card to verify the win.
In the Bingo game, players compete to become the first to have a winning arrangement for the prize or jackpot. After a winner is declared, the players clear their number cards of the tiles and the game host begins a new round of play.
Interestingly, online bingo games are available in various formats, including the progressive jackpots. Bingo is relatively easy to play and can be likened to an online lottery, except that you do not have to wait for days or even a week for a draw to take place.
Baccarat
Baccarat is a popular game that was reportedly introduced from France to Italy in the 15th century by soldiers returning from the Franco-Italian War during the reign of Charles VIII.
In recent years, Baccarat is a popular online gambling game that is available in many South African online casinos.
It is primarily a comparison company that is played by two hands â the banker and the player. Every round of the game has three possible outcomes. Baccarat is a relatively easy game to gain expertise at, and despite having several variants, you can get started in no time.
Baccarat is one of the most prestigious games you could find in SA online casinos. It has a rich European history; little wonder the special attention on South African casino floors. Baccarat players aim to obtain a two or three hand of cards, with the total of these cards being nearer to the number nine than the bankerâs hand of cards. All cards in Baccarat maintain their face value, except for the ace that is worth one and royal cards that are worth zero.
During Baccarat games, players bet which of the two sides are closer to the number nine or if there is a tie. The game is delightful and fun to play and watch others play.
Craps
Craps made it our list of popular games in SA online casinos. It is an exciting game that has been around since the middle ages. This online casino gambling game allows you to bet the outcome of a roll, or multiple rolls, of a pair of dice. It is impossible to predict how the dice will come out. Little wonder, it is reputed for being the most popular game of chance among South Africans.
Everything on craps is entirely based on luck. It does not require any skill or strategy to win, which makes it even more exciting. It simply requires you to pick up the dice, throw the dice, and you win or lose depending on what you roll; it is that simple!
Another reason why craps are becoming increasingly popular in the South Africa online gambling space is due to its low odds. With odds as low as 0.6%, Craps boast of one of the lowest odds among the games of chance. Such odds make it makes it even easier to win by just playing.
Craps offer limitless possibilities, and there are several possible outcomes. This increases your chances of winning and can also prevent you from losing out easily.
Online Lottery
Lottery has been in various forms for a long time as a form of gambling in South Africa. But what about an online lottery?
In the past, a lottery involves purchasing tickets from a store and waiting in an endless queue to claim your winnings, confirm lotto numbers, and being at the mercy of a lotto sales outlet agent who has been known to try and scam winners out of their earnings.
While an online lottery does not mean safe in every sense of the word, it allows you to stay on top of all the games you have played, check your winnings, claim your winnings, and, of course, get paid out in record time.
Interestingly, an online lottery allows you to play international lotteries without being a resident of the country. They are also available as a mobile casino, allowing you to carry out online gambling from the convenience of your internet-enabled mobile devices while on the go. With an online lottery, you can pick your lucky numbers any time from anywhere and to whichever world lottery games you want.
Live Casino Games
Live casino games are a relatively new form of online gambling that represents the action in a land based casino. It offers the real-live feeling of human interaction by recreating the brick and mortar experience for players. In addition, this form of online casino gaming offers a payback percentage to players compared to other types of casino games.
Live casino games are streamed through a video link in real-time from a casino table. It can also be streamed from a land based casino. South African casino players can bet live casino games on their computers and communicate with the dealer using the chat function.
Live casino games are also different from regular casino games where you interact with apps and software. In live casino games, you are connected to real games that are currently taking place in real-time through your desktop, tablet or smartphone, allowing you to bet on real games from wherever you are.
Top Casino Game Providers in 2023Â Â Â Â Â
- Microgaming: This is one of the oldest software providers in the online gambling industry. It has the most extensive collection of casino games for all types of casino platforms.
- NetEnt: Net Entertainment is reputed for offering high-quality casino games. They also offer various table games and live casino games.
- Playân Go: launched in 2004, Play’n Go is an experienced game provider that offers various instant-play games and real money online casino games that are available in multiple languages.
- Playtech: with a full range of casino products, including instant-play, download, mobile, and live dealer, Playtech is one of the most popular game providers in 2023.   Â
- Betsoft: Since its launch in 2006, Betsoft has grown significantly with over 150 online casino games in its portfolio. Their titles offer mobile compatibility.
- Novomatic: This game provider has grown from a land based developer to one of the most innovative software providers in the industry. They offer slot machines and various casino games.
- Aristocrat: This game provider is top-rated among slot enthusiasts. Some of their popular titles include Queen of the Nile, Where is the Gold, and 50 Dragons.
- IGT: This is dubbed the world’s largest slot machine and land based casino software provider. Their portfolio is replete with exciting games.
- EGT: With a portfolio covering top-notch online gambling games with 2D and 3D graphics, the EGT is one of the choicest game providers in 2023. It was established in 2002.
How to withdraw online casino winnings?
Are winnings taxed?
THE LAW
In South Africa, two laws are often referenced when determining if online gambling winnings are taxable. These laws are Graham vs Green (1925) and the case of Morrison Vs CIR. While the former states that a gamblerâs winnings were not considered profits or gains, the latter states that a gambler who carried on regular betting activities was liable to pay tax on his winnings.
How it Works
Although the South African Revenue Service (SARS) does not tax South African players who do sports betting for fun, they do seek to levy tax on the profits of gamblers who are successful enough that their gambling could be considered a regular means of income. This means that those who work in the betting or gambling industry are taxed on their winnings as it is assumed that those profits arose as a result of their work. The inference to be drawn here is that if your gambling does not constitute a regular form of income, you will not have to pay tax on any winnings. You can visit the South African Revenue Service for more clarifications.
The Best Land Based Casinos in South Africa
MonteCasino
- Phone: +27 11 510 7000
- Address: Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Johannesburg, 2055, South Africa
- E-mail: [email protected]
Sun Coast Casino
- Phone: +27 31 328-3000
- Address: Suncoast Boulevard Marine Parade Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
- E-mail: [email protected]
Emperors Palace Casino
- Phone: +27 11 928 1000
- Address: 4 Jones Rd, O.R. Tambo, Kempton Park, 1620, South Africa
- E-mail: [email protected]
Grand West Casino
- Phone: +27 21 505 7777
- Address: 1 Jakes Gerwel Dr, Goodwood, Cape Town, 7460, South Africa
- E-mail: [email protected]
Sun City Casino
- Phone: +27 14 557 1000
- Address: 3rd-floor Longkloof Studios Darters Road Cape Town 800 South Africa
- E-mail: [email protected]
Gold Reef City Casino
- Phone: +27 11 248 5000
- Address: Corner of Northern Parkway & Data Crescent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- E-mail: [email protected]
Have fun and play responsibly!
You are free to choose from any of the online casinos we reviewed here; but ensure you play responsibly. In other words, play in a way that keeps you safe from financial strife. Do not bet with funds you do not have or need for other things, and do not get addicted too.
The National Gambling Act of 2004 requires that minors and other vulnerable persons be protected from the negative effects of gambling and that a broad-based public education programme about the risks and socio-economic impact of gambling is provided.
Frequently Asked Question
It may be tricky to choose the best online casino in SA as it is dependent on your expectations as a player. It is best to look at our reviews of online casinos in SA and choose the one that best suits you.
Most South African online casinos allow players to deposit and withdraw funds in their local currency: the South African Rand.
 Yes. Most modern online casinos are available on desktop, mobile, and tablet. The mobile app can be downloaded from the relevant app stores, while the web versions run directly on modern web browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
Slots are the most popular games in South Africa. There is always a plethora of slot machines in various casino sites for South Africans.
Online casinos offer various payment methods to allow players to deposit and withdraw money from their casino accounts. These banking options include bank transfers, debit and credit cards, EFT, and electronic payment gateways, such as Neteller or Skrill, and even Bitcoins.
Provided that you are playing at a reputable and licensed casino, your safety is guaranteed.
According to the South Africa Revenue Service, your online casino wins are tax-free as long as you are playing just for fun and not as a significant source of income.
You should contact the casino’s customer support team any time you encounter a problem with an online casino.