• Silversands online poker section is a true masterpiece. Numerous poker games are available here — and these games are really, really good. All the video poker games in this casino are developed by the Realtime Gaming company (you probably know it as RTG), and RTG games have always been synonymous with the highest quality.
• Online poker in South Africa get more fans every year, and that trend doesn't look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. As online poker sites become more powerful (not to mention more popular), it's getting easier for players like you to get in on the action in 2020 and win real money from the comfort of home.

Online poker rooms available in South Africa The best online poker rooms. Selected poker sites offering bonuses and promotional coupons to play poker online. 12 online poker rooms available to players located in South Africa; More than $8,300 in welcome bonuses.

If you’re searching for the best online poker sites in South Africa, then we're your answer. At Casinos.co.za, we scour the web to unearth the top online poker sites for South Africans. From Texas Hold'em tournaments and cash games to exciting promotions, our recommended sites have everything you need for the ultimate online poker experience. Heard all you need to know? Then sign up to one of our SA poker sites and start playing right away.

Casino Highlights

• Generous welcome bonus
• Fast withdrawal times
• Trusted online poker since 2003

Payment Methods

Casinos Software

Can You Play Poker for Real Money Online?

Absolutely! Asyou can see from our list of realmoney poker sites above, there is no shortage of options for SouthAfricans. Each of these poker sites will give you a warm welcome in the form ofa bonus. They also boast an array of safe and convenient banking methods, and anexcellent range of games. Whether you want to take a seat at the cash tables,play a quick sit & go or enter a tournament, you can do it all.

Although the legal situation surrounding online poker in South Africa is a little murky, there are steps you can take to play online safely. These steps include choosing an e-wallet as your banking method, as well as only playing at our recommended sites. We’ll discuss these steps in more detail a little later.

Free Poker Games Vs Real Money Online Poker

While many South African playerslove to play online pokerfor real money, there are also lots of free poker options. Elite poker rooms give you anopportunity to hone your skills with play money chips. That’s great if you arejust learning the rules, but nothing beats the thrill of playing for real cash.

Thankfully, South Africans can enjoy both options at the best poker sites listed on this page. Let’s discuss the advantages of playing poker for free and for real money.

Benefits of Free Poker Games

• Learn the Basics – If you are new to online poker in South Africa, it’s good to learn the rules without risking any Rand. Poker hands move fast online and you will be able to gain experience a lot quicker than in a land-based poker room.
• No Risk to Your Bankroll – You can enjoy cash games with a set amount of play credits. You won’t win Rand, but the setup and software is exactly the same as in a real money game. This helps you test out strategies without any risk to your bankroll.
• Test New Poker Software – Testing the free poker tables will give you an idea of how well the software copes, and whether it’s up your alley.
• Try a New Poker Variant – Most players in South Africa start out with Texas Hold’em. The beauty of online poker is that you can find new and exciting variations to try. Free poker games like Stud, Badugi or Omaha carry zero risk and let you try out some strategy.

Benefits of Real Money Poker

• Play at ZAR Stakes That Suit You – Winning real cash playing online poker can be thrilling. And you don’t have to be a high roller to sit down at the tables. The best poker site will always let you play tournaments or cash games at stakes to fit your budget.
• Hit the Big Money Guarantees – Top poker rooms will run regular tournaments with heavy guaranteed prize pools. At the biggest online poker sites in South Africa, these prize pools can reach millions of Rand.
• Test Your Poker Skills Against the Best – Finding easy opponents to play poker against will help your long-term prospects. But the benefit of real cash poker is that you can take a shot against better players and test your skills.
• Claim Free Welcome Bonus Cash – The best poker sites will offer new SA players free cash just for signing up. This can take the form of free entries into tournaments or cashbacks. You will need to make an initial deposit first, but the rewards are good for regular players.
• Join a VIP Program – If you clear a lot of poker hands, you can join a VIP scheme. Loyalty programs reward regular play with big bonuses, faster cashouts, or invitations to world poker events.

How We Rate the Top Poker Sites in South Africa

Our team of experts has been playing online poker for years. That’s why we are perfectly placed to pick out the best poker sites in 2020 for South Africans. Whether you’re looking for popular Texas Hold’em tables or just reliable software, we have it covered. Here’s what we look for when we compile our reviews.

Security and Reliability: It’s vital that your personal details and funds are safe. We test all our top poker sites to ensure they have good security protocols in place. If a site has a poor reputation, we’ll flag it up.

Variety of Exciting Poker Games: Texas Hold’em is king at the best poker sites. But it’s good to have a spread of buy-ins, variants, and formats. We carefully review all our sites to check their selection of cash games, and tournaments.

Safe and Easy Banking: When you play poker online, you need to be able to use fast and secure banking options to get your money in and out. We deposit our own Rand when testing a South African online casino that has poker. That way, we test withdrawal and deposit times, as well as currency availability.

Great Customer Support: Good poker sites should quickly sort out any issue you may have. Customer service should be available 24/7, and staff knowledgeable about a range of problems.

The Best Online Poker Bonus Offers: From new depositor freerolls to jaw-dropping match bonuses, online poker sites in South Africa know exactly how to welcome players. While we are always on the lookout for the site that offers the best poker bonus, we also take loyalty programs and promotions into consideration when rating the top sites.

Free Poker Sites Where You CanWin Real Money

Did you know thatyou can play poker for free and still win real money? The best online poker sites for South African playershost multiple daily freeroll tournaments. Simply click on the “freerolls” tabin the lobby to see a list of tournaments that you can enter without paying acent. It’s a fun way to win real money, and it’s also a great opportunity toput new strategies to the test against real players.

Thesefree-to-enter tournaments usually award a small amount of cash to the winners. Some freerolls even awardtickets to satellite tournaments, which could see qualify for the site’sbiggest poker tournaments.If you’re lucky, you may even qualify for major live events at land-based poker rooms.

The Most Popular Online PokerGames in South Africa

Texas Hold’em maybe the undisputed king of card games, but it isn’t the only type of poker game you can play online.The Omaha tables have also seen plenty of action in recent years, and there areseveral other variants that have become increasingly popular amongst South African players.

Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em isby far the most popular poker variant in the world. Each round begins withevery player at the table being dealt two-hole cards face down. Five communitycards are then dealt face up in three stages. A round of betting follows eachof these stages. If the round reaches showdown, the player who reveals the bestfive-card hand wins all the chips in the middle of the table.

Omaha

Omaha Hi andOmaha Hi-Lo are also popular at online poker sites in South Africa. Each player at the table isdealt four hole cards, two of which must be used in combination with threecommunity cards to make the best possible five-card hand. The main differencebetween these two types of Omaha variants is the split pot. The pot is splitbetween the players with the highest and lowest hands in Omaha Hi-Lo.

Seven-Card Stud

Seven-Card Stud tablesdon’t see as much action as the Texas Hold’em and Omaha tables, but plenty ofSouth Africans love the game. Each player is dealt two cards face down and oneface up before the first round of betting begins. Three up cards are thendealt, with each followed by a round of betting. A final card is dealt facedown before the last round of betting, with the best five-card hand taking thepot.

Poker Tournaments and PokerCash Games

Once you learn how to play online poker inSouth Africa, you face another decision – poker tournaments or cashgames? Naturally, both formats have their own advantages and disadvantages. Tohelp you decide which format will suit you best, we will explain thedifferences between the two game formats.

Poker Tournaments

In a pokertournament, each player pays the same entry fee for a set amount of chips.Everything is predetermined, with the blind structure and other rules outlinedin the tournament lobby. You could find yourself playing against a handful ofplayers or tens of thousands of players. From sit & go’s to freezeouts andfreerolls, the biggestonline poker sites in South Africa host loads of tournaments.

Cash Games

Cash gamesinvolve playing against others at a single table for real money. There aretables to suit players of all bankroll levels, with each table having a minimumand maximum buy-in amount. You can choose between full ring (nine players),6-max (six players) or heads-up (two players) tables. Playing cash games onlineis similar to playing at land-based venues, except you can’t see your opponenttilt.

Can I Play Poker on Mobile?

The best online poker sites for South African players canalso be accessed via mobile and tablet. Mobile poker is great for playing TexasHold’em cash games or tournaments when you’re out and about.

Many poker siteswill ask you to download and install their official client. This is a freesoftware application that you will access to play poker against other players.Nowadays, most onlinepoker sites also offer instant-play versions of their software. Thismeans that you can quickly log in on your smartphone or tablet and take avirtual seat at the tables, with no software to download.

It’s important tohave good access to a web connection when you’re playing poker on yoursmartphone or tablet. There’s nothing worse than losing your poker hands beforea showdown because you lost your internet connection. You should also make surethat your device’s operating system is up to date.

Mobile pokersoftware looks and feels different to regular desktop clients. Tables andgraphics are adapted to fit the smaller screen, but you can still deposit moneyand play against the same opponents. The best poker sites we recommend make thetransition from desktop to mobile totally seamless.

Is Poker Legal in SouthAfrica?

South Africa hasrightfully been crowned the capital of poker in Africa. With so many casinosand poker rooms dotted across beautiful cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg,you may be surprised by the fact that online poker is illegal in the country. Despitethis, countless South Africans still manage to play online poker safely from the comfort oftheir own home, without fear of prosecution.

Due to the law surrounding onlinegambling in South Africa, there are a few extra steps you should take to beextra safe. This includes using an e-wallet like Skrill, Neteller or ecoPayz.Using one of these safe and secure digital wallets prevents your details frombeing tracked. You should also stick to the recommended poker sites on thispage, as they are the most trustworthy options for South Africans.

The Best Tips to Win at Poker

Poker isdifferent to regular online casino gaming in that you take on human opponentsrather than the computer. You can employ bluffing, aggression and cleverstrategy to get an edge over the other players. Let’s get started with a fewbasic tips.

Learn HandSelection – Whichever online poker variant youchoose, begin by understanding hand selection. In Texas Hold’em, it’s good tostart off tight by playing big pairs and suited connectors. Watch your positionat the table and avoid playing too many hands in early positions when you arefirst to act. In Omaha games, you are dealt four cards at the start of a hand.Hand selection differs from Hold’em and you must learn to adapt accordingly. Wecover starting hands in our poker strategy guide.

Keep Notes onYour Opponents – Make and save notes on youropponents. It’s good practice to keep information on other players’ commonmoves. You will usually come across the same opponents at the tables,especially if you play at certain stakes. Most online players rarely changetheir style, so keeping notes helps give you an advantage.

Don’t Play BadPoker Games – With so much choice at onlinegambling sites, you need to pick the right games. Never play at limits that aretoo high for your bankroll, and don’t play against players beyond your skillset.

UnderstandRaises – Knowing your raising sizes is vital to winat online poker. Make your raises too small, and you attract too manyopponents. Make them too big, and you scare everyone off. Learn to size yourbets correctly and exploit weakness at the table if you see it.

Practice atthe Low Stakes Tables – The beauty of online pokerin South Africa is that you can play at micro-stakes limits to get somepractice. Make use of the low-stakes cash games and tournaments where you cantry moves and learn new skills with minimal risk to your bankroll.

Avoid Going onTilt – Everyone playing at poker sites willexperience bad luck at one point or another. If your emotions get the better ofyou, you can go on tilt and lose even more money. Keep a handle on your tiltand log off if you need a break.

With someresearch, you can track down your opponents’ career earnings online. This willgive you a good idea of who to avoid and which players are regular losers – or“fish”, as you may refer to them.

If you want morein-depth strategies for winning, you can read our detailed guide on playingpoker.

Pick One of the Best PokerSites Today

The best online poker sites in South Africa let you deposit and take a shot at big-money prize pools. What are you waiting for? Get started by selecting one of our recommended poker sites to kickstart your online poker journey.

Casino Highlights

• Excellent VIP loyalty program
• Daily 15% cashback on losses
• ZAR currency deposits accepted

FAQs

Each of our recommended online poker sites have their own selling points. While one site may offer the best poker bonuses and promotions in the industry, another may boast the greatest traffic levels. Why not create a free account at each of the sites listed on this page to discover which site suits you best?

It’s important to learn basic game rules and understand how to win at real money poker games before taking your virtual seat. Texas Hold’em is the best online poker game for beginners, so give it a try first.

Of course, you can! You can easily deposit and play cash games or poker tournaments for real money. If you aren’t ready to deposit, give freerolls a try. You could secure a payout without betting a single cent.

Of course. Poker online combines elements of skill and luck, but the best players use strategy to get an edge over their opponents. Only by studying and playing can you improve your game.

For sure. Our recommended poker sites will accept ZAR deposits. There might be a few sites where you will need to convert Rand to other currencies, but we’ll always point that out in our reviews.

Online Poker Tournaments South Africa

Safety isn’t an issue when you play at online poker rooms listed on this page. These sites may not have a physical presence in South Africa, but they boast a rich reputation. Each poker room on this page utilizes the latest data encryption technology, and you can choose from several anonymous payment methods.

PokerStars is by far the biggest online poker site in the world. However, South Africans are not accepted due to the country’s gambling law. There may not be hundreds of thousands of players active at any one time on any of our recommended poker sites, but there is always plenty of action to be had.

That’s easy –visit one of the online poker sites listed on this page and create an account. You will then be able to log in and participate in freeroll tournaments for a chance to win real money. Once you’re ready to make your first deposit, head over to the cashier and choose your preferred payment method. After your deposit has been processed, you can then find a juicy cash game or enter a tournament.

Yes, there are several live poker rooms in South Africa. Emerald Resort and Casino in Gauteng became the first African casino to host a World Series of Poker Circuit event in 2012. Another major poker tournament took place on South African soil in 2012 when the World Poker Tour held its first event in the country at Emperor’s Palace. Montecasino and Carnival City also host plenty of live poker action.

When compared to blackjack and roulette, poker is a relatively new game. It came out in the United States, somewhere in the early 19 century. It’s still extremely popular. You’ll hardly find a casino without a poker table, anywhere in the world.

Fast forward to 2003: do you remember Chris Moneymaker winning as the first winner of the World Series of Poker who qualified by playing poker online for real money? Before that turning point in history, online poker, real money games weren’t taken seriously. But Chris changed everything. We now see poker rooms at all online casinos, and they are getting more sophisticated by the day.

Online Poker South Africa Real Money

Best Online Poker Casinos in South Africa

Top Casinos

A great number of South Africans play at online poker sites. There are several real money sites that offer various versions of the game, including live dealer SA online poker.

Online Poker South Africa Legal

If you’re interested in starting playing poker online, you’ll benefit from the info and tips that follow.

South Africa Online Poker Websites in 2020

By South African law, no online gambling sites can be licensed in the country. However, many online casinos that are licensed in Malta or Curacao don’t mind accepting Rand/ZAR. They specifically target South African gamblers and invite them to play for real cash.

When you see the extensive list of poker sites accepts players from South Africa, you might get confused. What’s the best casino?

That’s when our reviews get into the picture. Whenever you’re about to invest money in something, you want to see social proof. You need to learn from the experience of others. The same thing happens with casinos, which is why we decided to review them for you.

These are the elements we analyze and test:

• No deposit needed and welcome bonuses – How much free cash will you get when you make the first deposit or even before you pledge the money?
• Jackpots – Does the casino offer a bad beat jackpot game? That would give you an even greater thrill.
• Loyalty program – The deposit bonus encourages you to start playing, but what benefits do you get if you keep betting on real money casino games? Are there any tournaments and other membership events?
• Software – Microgaming, NetEnt, Novomatic, Playtech, and a few other software providers are the leaders in the online casino industry. They offer live poker, too. Does the online casino feature games by these providers?
• Licensing – Where did the license come from? Is the site audited from a third-party authority? These details are important for SA players.

Poker Variations

• Texas Hold’em – This is the most popular game of online poker real money South Africa and beyond. The dealer uses a standard deck of 52 cards to deal two cards to each player (the dealer doesn’t get cards). Through the action of the game, you should develop the best hand of five cards among the players.
• Pot-Limit Omaha – In this version, you receive four instead of two-hole cards. You can use only two of these cards to develop the game.
• Seven-Card Stud – It starts with two cards face down and one facing up (it’s called the door card). Each player gets seven cards, with three facing down and four facing up. The goal is to make the best combo of five.
• Razz – This version is similar to the seven-card stud, with one big difference. Here, the lowest hand wins the game.
• Omaha Hi-Lo – It’s almost the same with pot-limit Omaha, but it’s a split-pot game. The pot is divided in two parts. The best hand wins one of them, and the other one is awarded to the best low hand.
• 2-7 Triple Draw – During four rounds with three draws each; you’re supposed to make the lowest hand of five cards.
• Five-Card Draw – This one is simple, so it’s perfect for beginners. Each player gets five cards, one at a time. The cards are facing down. In the drawing stage, you choose the number of cards to replace. You aim for a strong hand of five cards.
• Chinese Poker – The dealer uses a 52-card deck to deal 13 cards per player. You divide your 13 cards into a setting of one hand of three (this one is known as the front) and two hands with five cards (these are the middle and the back). You place all hands face down on the table, and you announce if you’re playing or not when your turn comes. This is a rather complicated version of poker, which you may want to try when you gain enough experience with other games.
• HORSE – This game has mixed rules from Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Stud, and Eight-or-Better poker.
• Badugi – You hold four cards at a time, and you can trade as many of them as you want during three drawing rounds. Your goal is to make the strongest hand.
• Video poker – It’s a slot-like version of poker, and it’s not considered a real card game.

Play Real Money Poker on Mobile Apps

You can easily play poker sites’ real money games on mobile. The best websites work well on mobile browsers, offering a smooth gaming experience. This is the preferred way of SA mobile gamblers to play online since no download is required and they save memory on their devices.

But if you prefer apps, you’ll find them as well. Our reviews feature information for mobile casinos that developed their apps.

Banking Methods for Real Money Poker Players

Deposits and withdrawals are easy when you play poker online. These policies are transparent, so take a look at the Banking page of the website to see what payment methods you can use.

Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Skrill, SiD, Trustly, and Neteller are the usual options you’ll see. In other words, you can use a credit/debit card, bank transfer or an eWallet to make your deposit and withdraw money.

Play Online Poker with PayPal

PayPal is an option at a limited number of websites that offer South African online poker. That’s because PayPal casino payment method follows the rules of the user’s country, and online gambling is restricted in South Africa. Still, some casinos found options to make this payment method available for their players.

How to Win When You Play Poker Online for Money

No one knows your identity when you play card games online, so there’s no reason to show off. This is the first and most important tip for you: play with small bets.

If you’re not a seasoned poker player, you should choose one variant and stick to it. Texas Hold’em is great for beginners. It’s simple to learn, and it’s always fun.

You can play at multiple tables at once at an online casino, but that’s not a smart thing to do during your beginnings. You want to stay focused on a single game.

Focus is the key strategy for winning at poker. You want to create a distraction-free zone that lets you play long sessions.

FAQ

• Is it legal to play online poker in South Africa?

Yes; there are legit websites that allow South African players to gamble online. Make sure the website you choose is audited by an unbiased authority, such as the Gibraltar Gambling Commission, UK Gambling Commission, Isle of Man Casino Control Commission, or Alderney Gambling Control Commission. The licenses usually come from Malta, Curacao, or Antigua. Although they are not licensed in South Africa, these websites are completely legitimate for players from this country.

• Do poker sites accept PayPal?

Some of them do. You’ll have to go through reviews to find those sites, or you can check the Banking page of a specific online casino to see if PayPal is featured as a payment method.

• How to play with bonuses?

Welcome bonuses and VIP rewards are just like the real money you deposit. You can use them to place bets in online poker. Most casinos will require you to bet this money multiple times before you can withdraw the winnings. Be careful; some sites allow you to use bonuses only on slots.