Best live dealer online casinos in South Africa 2024
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Back in the day, the only way to enjoy a game of roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and other popular table games was to visit your local casino. But that changed when live casinos in South Africa became operational. Today, you don’t have to make long, tedious trips to your local land-based casino to enjoy your favourite casino game. Instead, pick up your phone, visit any of the many SA live casinos, and play your favourite game from the comfort of your home.
If you are in the dark about how to play at these casinos or which site to visit, we are here to shed some light. This guide should help you understand the basic working principles of live dealer online casinos. The best platforms offer tens, if not hundreds, of games. Read more about the popular types of live casino games you can play online. We have also listed some of the popular software providers behind these games. You will also be able to learn more about the pros and cons of playing at these live dealer online casinos. If you feel you should give it a try, discover some of the best brands in SA that you can visit any time of the day or night.
BEST LIVE CASINOS FOR SA PLAYERS DECEMBER 2024
Casino Welcome Offer Rating Bonus Visit 1 
YesPlay ReviewR3,000 welcome bonus R3,000 
Play now! 2 
ZAR Casino ReviewClaim R15,000 bonus on your first deposit! R15,000 Play now! 3 
Lucky Dreams ReviewGet up to $7,777 $7,777 Play now! 4 
Punt ReviewR10,000 welcome bonus R10,000 Play now!
Written & published:
10.10.2020 By author
Elishama A.
Reviewed & updated:
07.12.2024 By gambling expert
Richard B.
How live casinos work
The first true digital casino was founded in 1996 by Microgaming. The next decade would see the development of online casinos, especially table casino games. Players would no longer have to play RNG-based games developed by Microgaming, Playtech, NetEnt, and other software providers. Instead, they could play them in real format thanks to the emergence of live dealer casinos.
A brief history of live dealer online casinos
The first live streams of casino games appeared in 2003. Around that time, the online casino niche was relatively well developed as several watchdogs regulated and oversaw it. Despite all the measures put in place to assure players of a safe, secure, and fair gaming environment, some sceptics were suspicious of RNG-based games. They felt those games were manipulated to favour the house.
The need for live casino action to be brought to such players led to the birth of live casino games. This is how the first live streams of casino games from Asia happened. These streams were characterised by spotty connections, interruptions during gameplay due to breakage in the live streams, and poor service delivery. Those issues, compounded by the lack of technology to support streaming services, kicked live casino streaming services into the long grass.
Foundation of Evolution Gaming
Everything remained quiet until the arrival of Evolution Gaming in 2006. The company set up shop in Riga, Latvia, and was hell-bent on making live casino games a reality. Needless to say, more than 15 years later, they have over-accomplished what they set to do. They laid important foundation stones on which many other live dealer casino software providers build their live casino services on.
How live casinos in South Africa work
To understand how live casinos in South Africa work, you must understand the different elements and parties of live streaming that are involved in the action. A few areas are involved in developing a functional live dealer game: the cameras that capture the action and the software where all the data is processed. The last piece of the puzzle is the dealers and players from around the world seated at the table.
Every live casino camera has Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This is important because it makes the game interactive instead of a simple live stream. The OCR reads all the data presented to it during gameplay. Once the data is read, it is processed by the Game Control Unit (GCU), after which it is sent to the player through live streams.
The last piece of the puzzle is the dealer. Their work is to perform all the actions just as they would at land-based casinos. You can communicate with the dealer or other players at the table by typing your message in the chat box.
How we rate SA live casinos
There are hundreds of live casinos in South Africa anyone can visit. Yet, they are not all created or developed equally. The best brands stand out from the competition because of some aspects of their offering. When reviewing brands that offer live dealer games, these “aspects” are what we look at before rating and giving our recommendations.
We consider the variety of games on offer, the software providers behind these games, supported payment methods and how they deliver their transactions, as well as the mobile compatibility of the casino. These areas directly affect your overall gaming experience while at the live casino. As such, it is important to review/scrutinise them before recommending an online casino.
Variety of games and providers
A live dealer casino is only as good as its games. This is something that the best live casino sites seem to have mastered, seeing the variety and types of games they offer. To attract as many players as possible to their sites, they ensure all areas of live dealer gaming, as far as casino games are concerned, are sufficiently covered.
In a real money casino, you will find roulette, blackjack, baccarat, sic bo, craps, live casino shows, and other games. And they are not just offered in their classic formats. On the contrary, you will find multiple versions of each game. For example, you can find over 20 European, American, and French roulette game types. Some games come with bonus bets, making them thrilling and fun to play.
How do we ensure you join a site with cutting-edge gameplay? We review the software providers behind these games. While the variety of games offered is important, the software providers behind these games are much more important. Therefore, we also review the companies behind some of the popular games on offer at the site.
Flexible payment methods
Payment methods play a crucial role when it comes to real money gaming. Unlike their RNG-based counterparts, the games in live dealer online casinos can only be played in real money mode. This is why finding a minimum deposit online casino with reliable and a wide variety of payment methods is important.
Therefore, we also examine the supported payment methods when reviewing an online casino. While reviewing the options supported, we aim to answer the following questions: can the method be used to deposit and withdraw? Are there any hidden fees/charges associated with the payment method? How fast are the transactions conducted? As you would expect, a brand that supports a variety of payment methods, offers transactions free of charge, and processes withdrawals promptly is highly rated.
Great mobile compatibility
Mobile phones have become part and parcel of our day-to-day lives. The majority of South Africans use their smartphones for different purposes, including playing casino games. To ensure its members have an easy time playing on the site, top-rated live casinos in South Africa ensure their service is fully optimised and compatible with various devices.
The best way to deliver this is by offering its service through mobile browsers. By providing all its services through the mobile browser, the live casinos eliminate the need to download a live casino app, which would otherwise be a hassle for some players with little knowledge of operating mobile phones.
While many online casinos offer their services on mobile, once you start using them, you realise that it is far from perfect. Therefore, we review and check how easily navigating the live dealer rooms is. We also check how heavy the live streams are on multiple devices. Will the games cause the phones to lag or hang?
Live shows in South African online casinos
Games shows have to be one of the oldest programs on TV. Since the first-ever game show aired in the 1930s, millions worldwide have tuned in to spectate as participants compete for prizes while being influenced by a charismatic host.
Game shows such as Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and The Price is Right have become popular not only in the UK and the US but worldwide. There is nothing sophisticated or highbrow about game shows, which is why they are pretty popular. Spectators can relate to the participants, play along at home, and have a hearty laugh when they miss the prize.
With a massive following, it does not surprise that the game show concept has been incorporated into many high-roller casinos. Now, instead of playing along with the participants, you can be at the centre stage and win cash prizes. Evolution Gaming, which introduced the first-ever game show in 2017, and a few other studios have made it possible for people worldwide to enjoy game shows conveniently from their homes. And while there are tens of games to pick from, the ones explored below stand out as the most popular ones.
Money wheel live dealer shows
These are the most common game shows on TV, and the most played ones when it comes to live dealer shows. The game starts when the money wheel has been spun. The final resting position of this wheel dictates what prize will be awarded to the player. While there are many money-wheel live casino shows, two stand out: Dream Catcher and Adventures Beyond Wonderland. Dream Catcher (by Evolution) is quite a catch to play and takes you to a game with a charming host and a big, colourful money wheel. This wheel has numbered pockets, and it’s your mission to predict where it will stop. As a bonus, two of the fifty-four pockets have multipliers. Despite being the first-ever game show to be launched online, it continues to be one of the most played.
Adventures Beyond Wonderland is a Playtech release. As the name suggests, this is a fairy-themed live game show that allows you to win as much as €500,000 (or equivalent currency) in a single round. If you miss out on the top prize, there are five bonus rounds that ensure you get rewarded through multipliers.
Live slot games
Live dealer shows are not just limited to blackjack and roulette games. On the contrary, you can also play live slot games with the same entertaining wilds, bonus features, and in some cases, progressive jackpots. The most popular game in this category is Playtech’s Buffalo Blitz live slot. In addition to its 4096 paylines, high RTP of 95.96%, and high volatility, this Buffalo Blitz live slot has a free spins game, which can be retriggered to award you up to 100 extra FS.
Age of the Gods: God of Storms Live is another popular live casino game show from Playtech. It was the first live slot game to be released online – in 2017 – and has garnered a massive following since then. This is mostly because of the rewarding features it offers. For example, it uses a 5-reel, 25-payline format with an RTP of 95.15%. The highlight of the game, however, is the progressive jackpot. The pots have seed values starting from $50, $500, $5000, and $100,000 or equivalent currencies.
Trivia live casino shows
This category is dominated by classic game shows. Games shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Money Drop, and Deal Or No Deal have been developed in partnership between live casino software developers and the respective license holders. The result is a legit gaming experience that will make you feel like you are a guest on one of these shows.
Money Drop Live is based on the popular £100k Drop game show hosted by Davina McCall. It has a wheel with 54 sectors, allowing you to place up to eight different types of bets. In return for landing your bet, you could win as much as 4999x the bet you placed.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is a popular game show featuring a single zero roulette wheel and a live dealer. Your objective is to correctly predict where the ball will land. In return, you could receive multipliers, which can be as much as 1999x your bet.
Deal or No Deal is perhaps everyone’s favourite game show. In this live dealer version, you must pick from one of the 16 briefcases featuring different numbers to receive multipliers of between x0.1 and x500 your bet.
Live blackjack in South African online casinos
Live blackjack is popular for many reasons; one being it offers the best odds of winning compared to other games. With an average house edge of between 0.5% to 1%, live blackjack is the perfect game for casino whales and VIPs. While playing live blackjack, you have one objective, to form a hand value close to 21 without exceeding the value. This can be done by making certain plays on the table, including hitting, standing, splitting, taking insurance, plus more. There are tens of live blackjack games in South African casinos. You can play Lightning Blackjack (Evolution Gaming), Salon Prive Blackjack (Ezugi), Blackjack Dimond VIP (Evolution Gaming), and many more.
Live roulette in South African online casinos
Whether you are a frequent casino player or not, many people would immediately identify the iconic game of roulette. It is not hard to know why. Its iconic wheel stands out with the green, black, and red slots. The total number of slots in the wheel could be 37 or 38, depending on the version of roulette you are playing. Your objective is to predict where the roulette ball will land. This can be done by picking from one/several bets, ranging from straight bets (betting on a single number), colour bets (betting on colours), even/odd bets (betting on whether the number will be odd or even), plus much more.
Online, you can pick from several live roulette games. Some of the games that are highly recommended include First Person Roulette (Evolution Gaming), Speed Auto Roulette (Ezugi), Prestige Auto Roulette (Ezugi), Deu Green Roulette (Bombay Live), and more.
Evolution’s Lightning Roulette live casino game show is perhaps the most popular game under this. It offers multipliers on certain numbers. However, instead of one number, it can pick up to five, which can all be subjected to multipliers of between 50x and 500x.
Live game providers in SA casinos
Live casinos in South Africa require more than attractive graphics and mathematical wizardry beneath the games. With the gaming software needing Hollywood-like production standards, the best online live casinos strive to work only with the industry’s crème de la crème. This is why you will find software providers such as Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, Playtech, and Swintt Studios powering such casinos.
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Evolution
Evolution Gaming is widely considered the premier live casino software developer, and some of their games can be played at the best live online casinos in South Africa. Evolution incorporates cutting-edge technology into its games and hires expertly trained dealers. The end result is a realistic gaming experience in a luxurious setting—and you get all of these in the comfort of your home. The studio offers more than 80 games, covering all sorts of themes and types. Whether you are after blackjack, roulette, craps, or game shows, there is something in the portfolio.
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Playtech
As one of the leading software developers in the online casino industry, Playtech offers high-quality games for SA live casinos. The games have been designed to reward and entertain players across all divides. Whether you are a big fan of online roulette, blackjack, baccarat, sic bo, or even game shows, rest assured there is a game for you in Playtech’s live dealer games. As far as the accessibility of these games is concerned, Playtech games can easily be played instantly online through your device’s browser. You don’t need to download any live casino app to enjoy the full potential of a game. Most games are playable in more than 20 languages and offer multiple currencies for those who want to play in other currencies besides ZAR.
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Pragmatic Play
Compared to Playtech or Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play does not have a long history. Still, it competes with them on the same level. Not just in the live casino niche but in others areas of online casino gaming. Pragmatic Play’s meteoric rise to its current position is down to several factors. They are constantly thinking outside the box and experimenting with new ideas. This can be seen in their Drops & Wins games. Quality is yet another area they always strive for. Despite being released in a back-to-back manner, their games offer quality entertainment.
Because of their resilience and dedication, live dealer games from Pragmatic Play are now some of the most common online. Hardly will you visit the best live casino sites in South Africa and miss finding a game from Pragmatic Play. Some of the popular titles from this company include Sweet Bonanza CandyLand, Dragon Tiger Live, Mega Wheel, and Boom City.
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Swintt Studios
Like Pragmatic Play, Swintt Studios is a new player in the online casino industry, focusing on delivering RNG-based games. Despite the new status in the online casino industry, Swintt Studios is found in most of the top live dealer online casinos in SA. One of the main reasons games from this company have been adopted is the sheer variety on offer. The portfolio is not significant, but it covers at least what many players like to play. It has roulette, blackjack, and baccarat games. These games are well-designed and offer top-class entertainment. Tiger Bonus Baccarat is also a unique game with a Tiger7 bet that pays out up to x40 your bet.
Live dealer casino bonuses
Bonuses are part and parcel of the real money casino industry, and the best live casino sites have plenty to offer. In addition to the regular live casino welcome bonus, you can be treated to offers such as cashback, reload bonuses, and high roller offers. There are also special promotions that are awarded through the VIP program and which are only available for players enrolled in the program.
A cashback bonus does what it says on the tin, give part of your money back in the form of a bonus. The bonus can be awarded for spending money at the live dealer online casinos or for losing money while playing the games. Reload bonuses are available for anyone who makes successive deposits. The best online live casinos tend to have reload promotions throughout the week or month. Some live dealer casinos also have high-roller bonuses. One must make a high minimum deposit to qualify for the bonus cash.
Pros and cons of live casinos
| Positives: |
|---|
| The convenience factor is the most apparent advantage of playing at live dealer online casinos. With SA live casinos, you simply log into your favourite brand and start playing games using your smartphone |
| You get realistic entertainment compared to playing RNG-based games. You can see the dealers spin the online roulette wheel, throw the ball and perform all actions you find at the casinos |
| Through other innovative features, such as the chat field, you can also communicate with the dealer and players in real time |
| There are plenty of games to play compared to their land-based counterparts. For example, you won’t be able to play live casino game shows at brick-and-mortar casinos |
| You can play or access the SA live casinos any time of the day or night since these studios and casinos operate 24/7 |
| Some of the top brands offer plenty of bonuses and promotions for players who choose to play live dealer games |
| Negatives: |
|---|
| Technical problems are quite common with some of the live casinos in South Africa. Streams can be interrupted while you are in the middle of the action because of poor internet connectivity |
| They have much higher bet limits compared to what the RNG-based games offer. However, they are still much cheaper to play compared to what the land-based casinos offer |
Conclusion
There is more to live dealer casino games than fancy technology and good looks! While these two aspects matter when picking a game, you must consider the social aspects of the live dealer online casinos you wish to sign up to. When doing this, you must look at the dealers offering the games, the community, and some guidelines/rules regulating how people interact. Ensure there are only professional and friendly dealers, you’ll be signing up to a vibrant and chatty community, and some rules are in place to ensure you are safe while playing at SA live casinos. Of course, live casinos in South Africa can only be played with real money, but you can always look around before committing cash. Scouting is the only way to find a brand that fits your gaming needs.
