An unbiased overview of the best SA casino sites to play real money games – but always check for licences and reputation
Did you know the FedEx founder saved his business by winning $27,000 in the casino? I definitely don’t recommend this as a business plan. But this example shows how important it is to choose the right online casino: at least, the one that pays out what you win!
Below is my personal ranking of the top 10 online casinos to play games that pay real money in South Africa. As I love both the process and the result, I chose the ones with the most entertaining games and the quickest withdrawals. And some extra perks, of course!
Betway is my go-to for real money games. It offers everything a player could wish for — from a solid game selection to lightning-fast deposits and withdrawals (not to mention a top-notch mobile app!). I’ve never had issues with payouts or performance – that’s what makes it my top pick for games like Starburst and Joker Pro.
Here is the list of kief South African online casinos to play games that pay real money directly to bank accounts. The best ones, with everything from Starburst casino game and Buffalo Blitz to the new progressive casino games releases.
Betway main page
Betway has slot machines for every taste
If you google for some Betway reviews, you might find very different opinions. Some say ‘Aikona, never play here!’ The others praise Betway as the top online spot to play games that pay real money in South Africa. My experience was always smooth as silk.
Look, I use both a desktop version and a mobile app, and they both work fine, loading all online casino slots quickly unless my Internet lags. It always has something in terms of promos. And the collection is fine, too. Want some classics like Mahjong 88? No problem. Seek for some exclusives? Welcome to Betway specials, such as Betway spins.
With a couple of negatives like occasional app freezes or slight customer service delays, I can safely put it 9/10.
Starburst Xxxtreme HUGE 150x win on FIRST SPIN!
Payment Methods & Fees
The minimum deposit at Betway is only R5 or R10 depending on the payment method. They take no fees to top up your account. Withdrawals are also free, but there is a commission that a payment method can charge, so be careful and read the rules! As I already mentioned, I use Quick EFT for Betway and it’s free of any fees.
Here are other payment methods available on Betway:
Credit and Debit Cards (Visa and MasterCard)
Ozow
ForYou Voucher
OTT Voucher
Kazang
Quick EFT
Betway offers a 100% deposit match bonus of up to R2000. Besides, you can take part in a weekly draw when you play selected online slots games, and get bonus spins. At the moment, I didn’t find any no-deposit bonuses, so get ready to top up your account first.
Mobile Version Experience
I play on my iPhone, and it’s fine: all the games are perfectly adapted for mobile screens, and I get quick access to all my fav games and withdrawals. I experienced only a couple of freezes within six months — but it isn’t worth removing even a single star.
Try out the best casino’s real money games
Springbok main page
Springbok adds new titles weekly
I was a bit disappointed to not see some of the very nice titles in the Springbok catalogue. For example, they don’t offer Megaways slots at all, nor do they offer Rocky Slot Machine, Beach online slot, and King of Olympus slot.
In fact, there are only 200 real money games at the moment — with the best ones I listed in the next paragraph. But, this pretty modest collection doesn’t make Springbok a worse place than a huge Betway casino. What is more, there are new releases weekly, so chances are we will see a very extended library very soon. With a perfect payout system that includes crypto payments, very helpful customer support that proceeds with KYC quickly as lightning, and daily slot tournaments, Springbok Casino totally deserves my 8/10.
Both fiat and crypto options are available for users worldwide, and there are some local methods for Saffas.
Credit and Debit Cards (Visa and MasterCard)
EasyEFT
Bitcoin
EcoPayz
Wire Transfer
Neteller
Skrill
SID (Secure Instant Deposit)
Springbok Casino offers a welcome bonus of 100% match up to R1,500 for the first deposit and 50% match of up to R5,000 for the next 2 deposits. Besides, there are plenty of no-deposit bonuses, and I’ll give you the promo codes:
Mobile Version Experience
As an iPhone owner, I can’t enjoy the Springbok native app. It’s available exclusively for Android. However, the mobile version looks pretty fine in Safari and allows you to access all the online casino games and other site sections, including customer support and payouts.
Play Starburst slot and other online casino games for real money at Springbok
1xBet main page
1xBet boasts a huge collection of slot machines for real money
1xBet has always been pretty controversial, but the years of my experience with them (I tried both their sportsbook and casino) have shown you can trust them.
First, you won’t find such a huge gaming library at just any casino — imagine, there are more than 10,000 titles! It means there is literally everything the modern gambling market has to offer, from good old fruit machines to 3D Baccarat or even live dealer games you won’t find anywhere else such as Teen Patti.
Second, they have a really convenient user interface. I love that I can add the best online games to the Favourites tab to have quick access, and use search for any title. This is one of the top UX interfaces in fact — and I’ve seen much!
I give them 8 out of 10, with two stars removed for a bit of slow withdrawals sometimes and a lack of a mobile app for iPhones.
1xBet offers plenty of payment options, including good old debit cards, local methods for SA, e-wallets, and crypto.
Visa, MasterCard
Skrill, Neteller
Bank transfers
Mobile payments: OZOW
Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more
When you sign up, you get a casino welcome pack: a 100% deposit bonus of up to R35,100 and 150 free spins for several slots. Besides, there is a loyalty deposit bonus of 50% and 100 free spins. And, if you want to try some Arabic vibe, use the 50FUN1X no-deposit bonus code for the Emirate slot.
Mobile Version Experience
1xBet has a native app only for Android in South Africa, but I promise, you will do perfectly fine with the mobile version. It has a convenient mobile browser view, with all the same perks you will find on the website.
Play the best online mobile games at 1xBet
Hollywoodbets main page
Licensed casino with all sorts of slot machine games for real money
Hollywoodbets offers a solid collection of games from multiple providers, and I specifically like some exclusive online video slots. It’s always nice to try out something new and special, isn’t it? For example, take Hot Hot Hollywoodbets — the alternative edition of the popular Hot Hot Fruit.
Overall, the gaming experience is smooth. I was kicked off the game a couple of times when I played Esmeralda or something like that. I found reviews claiming the same problem — so it’s not my connection or browser error. However, it wasn’t really a big deal, so 9/10, after all.
All of the methods imply zero fees and require an R78 minimum deposit. Here is the list of available options:
Besides the welcome no-deposit bonus of R25 free bet and 50 free spins on the selected slots, you can also enjoy a referral bonus, and take part in the Spina Zonle slots competition.
Mobile Version Experience
Hollywoodbets has a nice app for both iOS and Android, and it works fine enough — despite the crashes I mentioned above.
The top online games for real money are here
1Win main page
1Win is a trusted brand, with 8,000+ real-money slots in the catalogue
Almost 11,000 games are at your service. Every gambler’s needs are covered: all the top popular slots, quick games like Aviator, and fair payouts. I was especially impressed by the 500% bonus. It’s really profitable and has adequate wagering requirements x35 (instead of 50 like everyone tends to have for such big bonuses).
I specifically love how 1win customer support works. They have a very personalised approach. I guess, I was really annoyed when reconfirming one slot’s rules I couldn’t get. But they were patient as a rock!
My verdict is 9 out of 10, with points removed for a small choice of payment options.
1WIN REGISTRATION – 1WIN SLOTS PROMOCODE 1WIN +500% on first deposit
Not the strongest part of 1win: you won’t find many local options for SA players. But, there is still something to choose from.
Visa, MasterCard
Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, eZeeWallet
Cryptocurrencies
Bank Transfers
The welcome bonus is 500% for the first four deposits. While there are no no-deposit bonuses, you can always enjoy the daily cashback promo, when you get some money back from your losses.
Mobile Version Experience
One more bonus was waiting for me when I downloaded the app: $100 for casino or sports betting. Yes, there are native iOS and Android apps that mirror a website’s interface and allow you to have a very convenient mobile view and quicker loading of all games.
Play mobile games from the top providers
Betshezi main page
Betshezi is ready to pay out much when you play games for real money
Betshezi is a pretty average casino, which I liked very much though. It offers nice bonuses to new and regular players, a simple and intuitive interface, and a pretty big real money game collection. What’s pretty special about them are the high withdrawal limits: up to R20,000 per day and R400,000 per month.
Some people complain about KYC issues, but I haven’t experienced any trouble: just provided my documents, and the payout was done quickly enough.
These guys welcome both crypto and fiat payers and don’t take fees. The minimum deposit is R200, and the withdrawal process might last up to 48 hours. Here are the options available:
As you sign up, you automatically receive a R25 free cash bonus with promo NEWBONUS. And, as you begin topping up your account, you can claim a 100% deposit bonus on your first payment, a 50% match — for the second one, and another 100% for your third deposit. The overall maximum bonus amount is R2,000.
And if you want to play hard, and deposit at least R2,000, you can receive an additional R2,000 high-roller bonus.
Mobile Version Experience
There is no app, but a mobile version works fine even if you are using a mobile network instead of Wi-Fi. However, compared to other picks on my list, this one’s interface doesn’t seem to be as sleek and modern as I expected.
Play online games for real money
Thunderbolt Casino’s main page
A casino for real money slot games online by Real Time Gaming
This spot is the best for those tired of enormous collections. If you never cared about such questions as ‘What are Megaways slots’ or ‘How to get 500 free spins on Fluffy Favourites’, you’ll like Thunderbolt! It works with Real Time Gaming slots, and so provides you with the biggest RTG collection.
You will definitely love the quality of the slots, free spins you can always catch here and there with different codes and fair payouts.
I put Thunderbolt 7/10 — maybe they should add at least a couple more providers and payment options.
Crypto and fiat are accepted, but seeing other popular wallets besides Payz would give Thunderbolt a bigger trust at some point. Here are the available options:
Instant EFT
Lightning Bitcoin
Bitcoin
Cash to Code eVoucher
EFPay (EFT)
MasterCard
Visa
Payz
There is something to get! First, you get a no-deposit bonus with an NDC350 promo code, to receive an R350-worth account top-up. The CB23-0924 code gives you 50 free spins for the Copy Cat Fortune, Giant Fortunes, and Magic Forest slots. Besides, the ULTIMATEFLASH code will give you R2,500 as another no-deposit bonus.
The last code becomes valid only after you claim a welcome bonus, which is spread among the first three deposits. You will get 100%, 125%, and 150% bonus matches, with the maximum possible bonus amount of R7,500.
Mobile Version Experience
Only a mobile website is available; nothing really special here, just a normally adapted mobile version of the same casino.
Check out the top Real-Time Gaming online casino
Punt main page
Punt welcomes everyone who loves crypto and fiat gambling
Another South African casino, Punt, has a suspiciously high rating at TrustPilot. However, there is no sign of scams or fake reviews — it seems users really praise it for responsive support, great tech solutions, and fair payouts.
Overall, I agree with all that — and I also want to add that this is one of the top spots to play using my crypto wallet. Very convenient, intuitive, and user-friendly — what else can one desire? Maybe, just a little bit wider game choice: today, there are only about 200 titles.
So, with only a single star taken away from my meticulous preference for bigger gaming libraries, Punt Casino is 9 out of 10.
Payment Methods & Fees
Credit and Debit Cards (Visa and MasterCard)
E-wallets: Skrill, Neteller, EcoPayz
EasyEFT
Bitcoin
Punt Casino offers an R10,000 spread over the first three deposits:
Besides, you receive some free spins for the selected games. And, if you are not ready to deposit right away, you can try out some no-deposit bonuses with the following promo codes:
And, you also get a 15% cashback on all casino losses (with some exceptions) every day.
Mobile Version Experience
Punt doesn’t have native apps, but its mobile version is okay: well-adapted for tablets and phones, at least the ones I tried.
Easybet main page
Easybet gives many bonuses for online slots gaming
Easybet has very positive reviews on most review sites. I once encountered a single issue: a promo code I had couldn’t be applied for some reason. But no one would dare call it a scam, right?
Everything else has always been just fine. The huge number of other bonuses helped me recover from that trifling mishap with an invalid promo, and the gaming experience made me almost forget it. I love the original slots’ quality, which proves all the products come from genuine providers, and the payouts are flawless.
7/10, overall (yes, I didn’t quite forget the broken promo, I admit it).
In short: both crypto and fiat, no fees. More detailed info:
Visa, MasterCard
Instant EFT
EFTPay
New members get a 200% Match Bonus up to R30,000 and 100 free spins. However, mind the pretty high wagering requirements of 40x. Besides, you can get some more free spins when you make regular deposits of at least R55. And, some no-deposit bonus promo codes:
Easybet has a very nice app designed specifically for real money games. However, it’s only available for Android, and iOS users like me will have to go with a simple mobile website. It’s not bad, though, except for the fact it logs off sometimes, and you need to sign in again.
Try out the best bonuses for real money games
African Grand Casino main page
African Grand Casino offers an R4,000 welcome bonus for all games
African Grand has collected different opinions: from the most annoyed ever, to pretty positive ones. I think they could have created a native app, and offered better bonus conditions, but overall, they are fair and payout quickly enough. What I specifically liked was African themes integrated into its design and game selection. Localised payment options and the speed of withdrawals were also a nice touch.
My verdict is 8/10, with stars taken away for the drawbacks I mentioned above.
Payment Methods & Fees
Visa/MasterCard
EasyEFT
Bitcoin
African Grand Casino has a whopping 200% bonus match, where you can get up to R4,000. The rollover terms are pretty high: 50x requirements are pretty hard to meet. Besides, there are various promos: for example, I love their Mega Moolah Mondays, with 10% losses on the Microgaming star.
Mobile Version Experience
African Grand Casino doesn’t offer native apps. It’s a bit funny how they promote it as a feature: ‘no native apps, just instant access’, but anyway, the mobile version is convenient enough. It’s well-adapted for both smartphones and tablets, at least, the ones I tried.
Why do I stand by my picks for the best casinos to play online games for real money? Because I know how to find them! Let me share my tried-and-true strategy.
I hope I helped you find a great place to play real money games online. No matter if you are into classic slot games, unpredictable Buffalo Blitz, or strategic Video Poker, there’s something for everyone.
Ready to play? Head over to your favourite South African casino and start spinning those reels!
In my opinion, some of the top online games for real money are Starburst, Buffalo Blitz, and Mahjong 88. Why do I think so? They pay out really often, so you have a big chance to win. Besides, they are nice-looking and are very easy to understand.
Some top ones, in my opinion, are Betway, Springbok Casino, 1xbet, and Hollywoodbets. These casinos offer a wide variety of games, quick flawless payouts, and generous bonuses.
Online casinos often offer various bonuses — welcome boosts, free spins, and no-deposit bonuses. For example, Betway has a 100% deposit match bonus up to R2,000 and you can also enjoy some seasonal offers.
First, check for a valid gambling licence — does it exist? Is it valid? Also, read reviews and make sure the casino has at least a couple of more or less popular payment methods. And take a look at the website’s protocol: it must be ‘https’, not ‘http’ if you want to be confident that your data is protected enough.
Gambling can be fun, but it is also risky. If you feel you or your close ones become addicted to gambling, get help as soon as possible — in fact, right away! Note, that this article isn’t here to inspire you to go spend all the money on gambling — it’s just a set of facts that you need to treat responsibly.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with gambling, there are great resources available to help:
Gamblers Anonymous South Africa
National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP)
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
Remember, gambling should be entertaining, not a way to make money. Play responsibly and take care! If you need help, don’t wait to reach out.
