Top online gambling providers are always trying to entice new customers and build customer loyalty by offering a huge range of casino games. It can be a little overwhelming for those who've only played in land-based casinos, or who are completely new to gambling. Luckily, most online casinos allow you to play for fun before you deposit any real money.
Here you'll find a shortlist of South Africa's best online gambling sites for both real money and free play casino games. All of these online casinos, including our #1 online choice Springbok Casino, offer a massive selection of slots and progressives, table games like roulette, blackjack and baccarat, and live casino games that feature real croupiers.
“There are so many casinos, games and gambling providers out there, it's difficult to know where to start. We’ve narrowed it down to only the best.”
If you're in practice mode, there's no wrong answer. Maybe pick one of the casino games you've always wanted to try, give the rules a quick scan and start playing - that really is the best way to get a feel for a new game and, since you're not playing for real cash, any losses you experience don't matter. Unfortunately, the same is also true of any big wins you might have.
If you decide to deposit some ZAR and play with real money, it's wise to either pick a game that you're familiar with or pick one of those staple casino games that everyone has at least vaguely heard of. There's no need to try Multi-ball roulette when regular roulette will do. Here are a few of our top picks for beginners:
Of course, if you're playing with real money (i.e. not in practice mode), you might want to pick a game you're familiar with when gambling. Games where you're not quite sure of the rules are best played in practice mode until you're 100% confident. But do make sure you try a few - you'll never know which games you're a natural at until you've tried them.
There are so many casinos, games and gambling providers out there, it's difficult to know where to start. Well, we've narrowed it down for you with this list of some of the best, so go exploring and find one you love.
Play now at Springbok Casino and get R11,500 free!This is like asking “what’s the best soccer team?” or “what’s the best colour?” as everybody will have their own opinion. If you are new to online casinos, you should try them all out and find the one that you enjoy most. You won’t have to spend any money to do so, as most casinos offer free play to their players.
Online casino games are completely automated, meaning that there is no real dealer or other human presence (unless you are playing one of the live games offered by some casinos). The technology used to run these games is incredibly advanced and ensures that every hand, spin or roll of the dice is completely random. Should you wish to investigate further, all casinos will have details of how their games work on their sites.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions about online casinos, as the games found there are certainly not rigged. Firstly, they are rigorously checked by independent government agencies to ensure fairness, and secondly, they have no need to rig games, as they know the overall pay-out percentages and therefore how much they’ll earn in the long run. All of the online casinos recommended on this site have been tested to ensure that they are fair and honest, so you can play at them with peace of mind.
At an online casino, the game with the best odds is video poker, as it is the only game that can actually have a return of over 100%, if you play optimum strategy. Craps is next in the list, followed by blackjack, baccarat and roulette. Of course, understanding exactly how to play these games increases your chances of winning considerably.
Slots have the biggest jackpots, specifically the ones offering progressive jackpots. These jackpots go up and up the more they are played, until a lucky player manages to scoop the top prize. This jackpot can be worth millions of credits. Some poker tournaments also have incredibly large prizes as well, however you have to be very good to win them.
This totally depends on the individual. Some will be drawn to the flashing lights and excitement of the slots, while others might prefer the skill associated with blackjack. The best idea is this: use the “Free Play” option at a site and try out all of the different games, until you find the one that you enjoy the most!
Like most things in life, the key here is practice. The more you play, the more you’ll understand how games work and what the best strategy is in certain situations. You’ll also find a number of places online with information and tips on different casino games.