If you just want to gamble, feel free to take a look at the list of the top online casinos, read a review about the one you like best, and start gambling.

If you want to learn more about our procedures, read this article. It includes information on how we test casinos, what are the best casinos in SA, as well as other useful information.

Most gamblers simply do not have time to monitor all these factors. This is why we at CasinoHEX employ experts in the industry who review South African casinos. We measure every metric possible, rate casinos, and create a list of top casinos in South Africa.

On top of offering a sound bonus system, a gambling website has to be legal, safe, and have a lot of positive reviews on trusted sites. The best casinos have to offer a lot of perks to gamblers like a well-designed website that will work well for both desktop and mobile gambling, fair gambling, and a whole lot more.

Online casinos in South Africa are popular entertainment that offers gamblers fun times with some possibility of winning money. The promise of becoming a rich person is good enough for some people, but most prefer their South African online casinos to have more features than a good jackpot.

How We Test South African Online Casinos

Gilmar Langelaan Chief Editor Hello everyone, My name is Gilmar Langelaan and I am the editor-in-chief of CasinoHEX South Africa. I have been leading this project since 2018 by testing online casinos myself and making extensive reports about them. I test every new online casino myself, do research on the latest bonus promotions and check out the payment methods offered. In the same way, I thoroughly check the security of personal information and licensing in order to produce a reliable and reliable report. Show More

The most important thing that distinguishes CasinoHEX from other review websites is that we have a set of criteria that we follow when reviewing gambling sites. All our experts rate casinos according to these criteria to give you the best idea about a casino. This ensures you only see the best of South African online gambling websites and no rogues appear on the list.

Here is how CasinoHEX rates casinos that appear on our list.

Licenses

The very first thing that we check when ranking a casino to appear on our list is the licensing information. Sure, the government of South Africa doesn’t issue licenses to online casinos, but many other countries do. If a casino is licensed by a gambling authority in Malta, Curacao, or Gibraltar, this indicates that they will offer some laws at least. If that’s not the case, it may be a casino that will close tomorrow and take off with all your winnings.

The best casinos out there are controlled by the UK Gambling Commission. This organization has rigorous standards for its subjects and controls every aspect of the casino from fair payouts to not advertising to minors.

Personal Data

Since there are many shady casinos out there, protecting personal data is of utmost importance for us. You could be entering your banking information into the casino page, not knowing it’s being stolen. The same goes for KYC procedures. You are often required to send out proof of residence, pictures of your ID, or some other private information that could be used for identity theft if it ends up in the wrong hands.

Our IT experts check casinos in two stages. First, we look at the integrity of the casino itself. We check whether the site has HTTPS protocols in place, what people say about it, and scan for visible security leaks.

The next stage is scanning for security concerns that can be exploited by third parties. For instance, if the casino’s database is stored without a password or hashing, it could easily be stolen for illicit purposes. Our experts rule out that possibility and inform the casino about the problems if they found any.

Payment Security and Safety



One part of payment security is covered in the previous subheading. Our experts make sure that the payment process in the casino is secure from the technical standpoint. However, there’s another aspect of payment safety.

We thoroughly check that the casino in question conducts all payments on time and doesn’t decline payments on false pretenses. Some rogue casinos employ a tactic of putting off or refusing withdrawal requirements stating that the gambler has broken some obscure rules. We don’t want casinos like that to be present on the list, so we study their past record and rule them out.

eCOGRA

eCOGRA is one of the most significant facilities that is testing gambling websites for security and upholding standards of safe gambling. If a site has a certificate from this regulator, the odds are it’s a respectable casino.

We also check for certificates from other respectable companies like GamCare. If a casino is a participant in a self-help organization that allows self-exclusion, it’s also a big bonus to its rating.

Customer Support

Most gamblers don’t really think about this aspect of the casino, but it can be essential in a difficult situation. If you have a problem with your withdrawal or deposit, you need the customer support to answer as soon as possible and be very helpful.

Our experts conduct test interactions with the casino support to see how fast do they react and whether they can help a customer’s problem if it’s not something scripted.

Usability

Having a casino that is full of perks and amazing games is good, but it won’t help that it’s hard to navigate. We make sure that casinos that we add to the least are easy to navigate and easy to gamble at. It’s not the most crucial thing in a casino, but it’s pretty useful either way.

Gaming Software

All the other aspects of the casino are more or less optional. Sure, you do need a casino to be safe, but other than that, you can live with bad navigation and customer support. What you can’t live without are pokies and table games that run well.

This includes both having games from respectable developers with great streaming apps as well as the casino itself being optimized for both desktop and mobile gambling. We check how games work on a casino from a multitude of devices to make sure CasinoHEX readers get the best experience no matter what.

Operator Reputation

Our experts check all sorts of data on the casino we feature on CasinoHEX. However, we can never test for every possible issue with the casino. This is why we turn to reputation online as one of the critical factors in the casino’s trustworthiness.

We check the most popular review websites to make sure that the casino we review never had any significant problems along the way. If we find that it had several negative reviews that feature a question that seemingly never got solved, we do not recommend using the casino.

Bonuses and Promotions

Despite how many amazing games does a casino has, you can never be content with that alone. Most people who love gambling also love getting some money for free. This is why we not only review the bonus offers of the casinos we feature on the website. We also provide an extensive guide in every casino review that we write.

As a new gambler, you will have all the information about the casino’s bonus system on your hands before actually making a deposit. You’ll learn everything about the sweet offers this casino has as well as withdrawal requirements.

Terms and Conditions

Every casino has them, and most gamblers accept T&C without as much as reading them for a minute. Sure, most of us players don’t have time to read through pages of technicalities. Luckily, CasinoHEX reviewers have that time on their hands.

We read through the casino’s T&C before giving it a final verdict. Why do we do this? Because casinos may have some fine print in the terms and conditions that may lead to complications when you’re want to make a withdrawal. We make sure that this is not the case in the casinos we mention on the website.

Deposit Methods

Every gambler is different. Every player loves different types of games, has different preferences in the way they play, and prefers different deposit methods. We review what deposit and withdrawal methods casinos offer and make sure that you, the player, have all the information you need to make a deposit that’s right for you.

KYC

Most casinos have a know-your-customer procedure in place. It’s our job to make sure this procedure is safe for the player and helps identify that they’re of legal age without breaking their privacy. If the KYC procedure is flawed or absent, we cannot recommend the casino.

Most Popular Casino Games in South Africa

If an online casino in South Africa wants to appeal to a large number of gamblers, it has to conform to what the players want. What do they want? Apart from fairness and a safe atmosphere to gamble in, they want to see these games at their casino.

Online Slots

Online slots are a staple of online gambling. Almost everybody on earth who has ever been at an online casino knows and loves these games.

Slot machines were a constant success ever since they were first popularized in the US in the 19th century. In the digital age, they still remain highly sought after entertainment.

The only thing that distances the old-time slots from the modern ones is that digital form helps slots develop more forms that look and play better. Regular video slots are limited by the gaming cabinet. You can’t go more comprehensively than the cabinet’s window, and you can’t do many changes on the small screen.

The slots you can play at South African online casinos far surpass the regular land-based casino slots in variety and ingenuity. Try any slot form the ones that you can see at a land-based casino like an Aristocrat slot to high-production pokies exclusive to online casinos like Yggdrasil.

Blackjack

Blackjack has been a classic casino game since casinos became the thing, probably. This card game is one of the most basic but most entertaining table games in casino history.

The rules of the game are elementary. The dealer deals you and themselves two cards at the beginning. Your goal is to either get 21 points or beat the dealer’s hand. Order them to hit you with another card or stop when you think you have good chances of beating their hand. If you get more than 21 points, you go bust, losing your bet.

In an online casino, you can try different variations of blackjack that range from mediocre to really good-looking. Some even have one deck of cards so you can practice counting.

If you want to enjoy the social aspect of the casino, try live casinos. There, a beautiful hostess will take your bets and deal with your cards.

Roulette

Roulette is one of the most loved table games in any casino. The roulette table with its black and red checkered bet table on the green cloth has become synonymous with the casino.

At casinos presented in our list, you can try any variation of this game, including the most popular ones, American, European, and French roulette. The difference between European and American roulette is that the latter has two zeros, so the house edge on your bets is higher. In French roulette, you can place bets on sectors of the roulette wheel automatically.

You can also try this game in the live casino variation. Evolution Gaming offers dozens upon dozens of live roulette options, and you’re guaranteed to find the one that you love.

Scratch Cards

Are you a fan of simpler pleasures? You can find dozens of scratch card games win real money at South African casinos. All you have to do is just start up the game and enjoy your time while you’re slowly scratching the protective layer from one card after another. It’s not only soothing, and it can also give you a huge win.

Bingo

Bingo may not have the most entertaining gameplay among all the casino games, but it sure does offer incredible wins. If you’re a bingo fan, you can enjoy this game at some casinos from the list. Mind though, that not all casinos offer it, so you might want to read reviews to check whether it’s on the platform first.

Lotto

A lottery is very similar to Bingo, but the difference is, most lotteries are state-run. You won’t be able to take part in the South African lottery, but you can play lotto, a smaller version of that game. It has a low barrier to entry and offers a massive prize to top winners. Do you think you can win? Give it a try at one of the casinos from the list. In most of them, it would be available in live casinos, so you’ll get to mingle with the community as well.

Top South African Developers

Are you looking for a specific developer? Check out the developer filter on the website, and you will find that CasinoHEX has casinos on the list that feature games from most developers that you will be interested in. If you’re not sure what’s best for you, here are a couple of developers that are most loved in South Africa’s gambling community.

RTG

RealTime Gaming may not be the most flashy out of all the new developers, but it certainly holds true to its own standards. RTG produces slot games that look vintage and take you back to the era of land-based casinos. Sure, they’re not as visually appealing as some of the newest developments, but they still work in 2020 and even pay vast sums of money.

Playtech

Playtech is an all-around developer. It doesn’t just make casino games like slots and table games. It also produces virtual sports games, sports betting software, poker gambling software, and much more. The colossal scope of the company allows it to create amazing games.

Games made by Playtech like Age of Gods are rightfully taking place as some of the best games on the market and are continually getting new titles in the franchise. Everything from the graphics to the game mechanics is excellent, but you’ll have to see it for yourself to believe it.

Microgaming

Microgaming is one of the most sought after game developers on the market, South African or otherwise. It mostly produces slots, not table games, but these slots are some of the best out there. It has very advanced graphics that set the bar high for the whole industry.

Its slots are revered by many gamblers around the world. And some of them draw in audiences that were previously oblivious about gambling by the franchised slot machines. These include Terminator, Jumanji, Jurassic World, Playboy, and Battlestar Galactica.

NetEnt

NetEnt is another strong leader in the world of online gambling. Along with Microgaming, this game developer sets the standards for the whole industry. It doesn’t just create amazing slots but also has produced the first VR slot, a re-release of the all-time favourite Gonzo’s Quest.

Apart from creating the most modern slots on the market as well as classics like Street Fighter, NetEnt also creates impressive live casino games.

Play’n Go

Play’n Go is another developer known for great graphics and innovative game design. It may have fewer slots in its arsenal than some more prominent developers like NetEnt or Microgaming, but it is firmly placed among the top ten gambling software developers.

It’s laser-focused on slots and doesn’t produce anything else, and it doesn’t have branded slots like some of the top developers. However, it does have a lot of fantastic franchises of its own like Rally Riches, Troll Hunters, and Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead.

IGT

IGT is a land-based gambling company first and foremost. It started out as a land-based slot producer and slowly expanded into creating slot games. This is why many IGT slots have a land-based feeling to them and take you to the atmosphere of a gambling parlour.

But it doesn’t mean the slots look old. Most of them look modern and have innovative bonus games.

QuickSpin

QuickSpin is one of the most innovative game developers. It has created some of the most exciting and award-winning slots. Some of them, like Ivan the Immortal King, have already become classics. Out of all the new slots, it is putting out, and many have the potential to become just as famous.

If you’re looking for a casino game developer that has a small amount of high-production slots, this is it.

Casino Types

At CasinoHEX, you can find all sorts of casinos. Here are a few types that you can specifically look for.

New

Most of us gamblers are always looking for something new to satisfy our tastes. Thankfully, there are dozens of new casinos opening up every month. CasinoHEX keeps tabs on all new entries to the market, reviews them, and lets you know all the details about them. We also make sure that no rogue casinos make it on the list.

Mobile

What’s the point of playing at a casino if you can’t take it with you whenever you want? With a smartphone, you can choose any game, any book, and any streaming service with you to work or to a busy line that you have to wait in. The same is right about casinos.

CasinoHEX lets you know what casinos are the best for mobile gambling and tests all casinos on mobile devices.

Live

Do you enjoy the social aspect of gambling? We’ve got your back. Sort the list of online casinos by live casinos, and you will find the ones that feature the best live casino software. This type of game lets you enjoy gambling on roulette or blackjack online with a host and a company of like-minded people.

Minimum Deposit

Not all gamblers are high-rollers. Sure, it’s a good life when the only thing that upsets you about a casino is that you can’t deposit R50,000 at once, but not all gamblers can relate to that. A lot more people prefer to gamble with small amounts of money to prolong the pleasure.

This is precisely the type of casinos you can find if you filter by minimum deposit. These casinos let you make small deposits and small bets while getting a lot of fun.

Fast Payout

Nobody likes the feeling of anxiety you get when your casino is taking forever to give you the withdrawal. Some may take up to 5 days to process your claim and send you the money. For many people, this is not only frustrating, but it hurts their wallet as well.

If you want to get payouts as fast as possible, go for fast payout casinos. These South African casinos will pay you on the next day, some even on the same day.

Best Payout

There’s one thing every gambler can agree on. You want to get as much value for your money as possible. As an individual, you probably cannot monitor every casino that accepts players from South Africa to find the best one. CasinoHEX experts can do that. In fact, it’s our job to make sure you get the best payout casino and maximize your winnings. You can find those casinos in the corresponding section of the website.

VIP

Want to feel special when you’re gambling? Find out what VIP casinos have to offer. These are either specifically tailored to fit the needs of the high-rollers or have a VIP program to serve the needs of their most valued customers.

Check what VIP casinos can offer you in the corresponding section of the website, and feel free to choose the most luxurious one to gamble at.

No Registration

Don’t want to register and wait to get through the KYC procedure to start gambling? You may want to check out no registration casino. These casinos will give you the option to start placing bets from the time you land on the website. Keep in mind that you may want to register in the end, since it often gives you some perks.

Best Payment Methods For South Africans

Every gambler has their preferred payment method. Whether it’s a credit card or Bitcoin, few punters want to change it on the spot to make a deposit in a casino they like. This is why we filter casinos by payment method and provide you with crucial information that can help you find a casino that will be most suitable for you.

PayPal

Paypal is accepted in most online stores, but it’s not true for most casinos. In some cases, Paypal forbids gambling-related payments and won’t let you make a deposit or receive a withdrawal from a casino.

Some casinos, however, are able to make it possible. CasinoHEX experts look for these casinos to help South Africa gamblers with Paypal accounts make payments easier.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have skyrocketed in value in the last decade. Some could say, they’re what defines the revolution in tech currently. Sadly, not all vendors are on the bandwagon just yet. The good news is, some casinos are already accepting payments in BTC.

Filter the list of casinos by Bitcoin as the payment method, and you’ll find the casinos that are willing to conduct transactions in crypto. The odds are, these casinos can also accept Ethereum, Litecoin, and others.

Wire Transfer

Wire transfer may not be the cheapest option since there are high transaction fees associated with it; it is accepted in all casinos. The only thing you should look out for in wire transfer casinos is whether they allow for other methods of making withdrawals. Some only send winnings to your bank account.

SID EasyEFT

EasyEFT is just what the name suggests. Electronic funds transfer made easy. This service connects to your bank account and makes wire transfers online for a fraction of a price. The best thing about it is that you only need a bank account to make transactions. It’s also exclusive to residents of South Africa, so it will be accepted only in South African casinos.

You can also find this service by the name EFTPay. It’s run by the same company, but make sure you check for EFTPay casinos specifically as not all casinos that accept EasyEFT accept EFTPay.

Neteller

Not a big fan of having casino transactions register on your official bank account? Use an e-wallet like Neteller to conduct payments. Unlike wire transfer, it doesn’t take a huge fee to process the payments and is available for payments online. This means you don’t need to withdraw the funds from Neteller to use it. Just use Neteller for online purchases.

You can get a Neteller account in ZAR, so you won’t even have to pay the currency exchange fee.

Skrill

Skrill is another e-wallet that is commonly accepted in online casinos throughout the world. You can get an account in ZAR as well, but the fees are a bit higher than for accounts with more popular currencies. You will pay a 2.5% top-up fee and a 7.5% withdrawal fee. The withdrawal is only possible on your bank account or on the Visa card. However, you can withdraw more money than with Neteller.

Ecopayz

Not a big fan of both of these e-wallets? Give Ecopayz a try. It allows accounts in ZAR, so you will have the option to escape paying the 2.99% conversion fee. However, you will pay several fees on deposits and withdrawals. Making payments to the casino is free, though. You can only send R3,000 per transaction until you go through the KYC procedure.

Credit Cards: Visa and Mastercard

The absolute majority of casinos accept both Visa and Mastercard for making deposits. Some only give withdrawals to one of these payment systems, so you may want to check with our review first. Also, you can filter the list of casinos by Maestro or Visa Electron to make sure the casino accepts them.

Depositing with ZAR

The biggest problem when it comes to gambling online in South Africa is that many casinos you can find on your own do not take deposits in South African Rands. Not only does this mean you will have to navigate a foreign currency when making bets, this means you will pay a conversion fee twice, first when you deposit, and then when you make a withdrawal. This can make your sum of money up to 5% smaller.

With CasinoHEX, you can find casinos that accept deposits in ZAR. This means we help you save money and have an easier time navigating casinos.

What Happened with Online Gambling Laws in South Africa?

Gambling has always been a part of South Africa’s history. However, today, this historical pastime isn’t legal in the case of online casinos. Let’s see how that happened and is gambling legal in South Africa.

Legal Status and History of Online Casinos

While gambling was a part of South African culture and history since the country has been founded, all forms of gambling were prohibited in 1965. The gambling industry grew on the black market, and in 1996, the government woke up to reality and finally did what it was supposed to do. It legalized gambling by The National Gambling Act.

The problem is, the act was not created during the time online gambling was popular, so this form of gambling wasn’t included. Later appeals of the act added online betting to the list of legal and regulated activities, but they failed to include online casinos.

Right now, there’s a legal battle being fought to change that.

Legal Status and History of Land-based Casinos

Land-based casinos historically enjoyed far better privileges. Even though they were outlawed in 1965 together with other forms of gambling, underground casinos continued to grow. When gambling was rightfully legalized in 1996, several casinos sprung up immediately.

To this day, South African hotel-casinos are some of the most sought after destinations. For the most part, these places allow parents to have a great time with their kids in theme parks and then enjoy gambling in the parlour.