Best Live Casino Games in South Africa: Rules, RTP, & Game Shows
Playing live dealer games puts the atmosphere of a land-based casino at your fingertips, letting you play wherever you are using your cell phone or PC. Licensed South African online casinos offer live lobbies from Evolution Live, Ezugi, Pragmatic Play Live, and more. In this guide, I’ll explain how live games work, the best game shows and table games, and our recommended SA-licensed sites. Find out if there are free-play tables and RTP ranges.
SportsBoom offers honest and impartial bookmaker reviews to help you make informed choices. While we may earn commissions through affiliate links, our content remains independent and free from promotional influence. For more information, see our Content Transparency and How We Review pages.
What Are Live Casino Games?
Live Casino Games
Streamed live from studios, live casino games are table games and game shows with professional dealers, like those found at your favourite land-based casino.
Basically, you join a lobby, place your bets, and watch the croupier deal the cards, spin the wheel, or draw balls. What makes it more exciting is that you are playing with a live dealer and against other players. The dealer chats to you during the rounds, and there you can chat with other players using the live chat feature.
Core Categories
There are a variety of games to be found at a live dealer casino. Here are the core categories covered by most South African live casinos.
- Live Roulette
- Live Blackjack
- Live Baccarat
- Live Poker
- Game Shows
Main Game Providers Available in South Africa
Main Game Providers Available in South Africa
Although the list of game providers is constantly growing, there are some that are known for delivering the best quality. Here are some of their standout offerings:
- Evolution Live: Flagship game shows, wide roulette & blackjack portfolio
- Ezugi: Strong baccarat & Teen Patti focus
- Pragmatic Play Live: Blackjack & games shows
- Playtech Live: Quantum Roulette & Spin a Win
How Live Casinos Work in South Africa?
Live games are streamed from studios where camera capture live dealer action. Once bets are placed, the dealers spin the wheels, deal the cards, or start the game show. All winning bets are settled immediately. Unlike slot games, most of the games rely on physical items like cards and wheels, and only a few games, such as Lightning Roulette, have RNG multipliers.
RTP & House Edge
Two numbers matter when playing live casino South Africa games: RTP and House Edge. They are 2 sides of the same coin:
- RTP (Return to Player): How much the game is expected to return to players over time.
- House Edge: The live casino’s built-in average that goes back to the casino.
For example, European Roulette has an RTP of 97.3%. This means the house edge is 2.7%. Theoretically, from every R100 bet, R97.30 goes back to the player, and R2.70 goes to the casino.
How Live Casinos Work in South Africa?
Here are the typical average RTP vs House Edge for live casino games
| Live Casino Game | RTP | House Edge |
| Blackjack | 98.2 – 99.5% | 0.5 – 0.8% |
| Baccarat | 98.9% | 1.1% |
| European Roulette | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| Poker | 96 – 99% | 1 – 4% |
| Game Shows | 94 – 97% | 3 – 6% |
These figures are for the classic version of casino games. Variations that have multipliers and other features will change these figures.
Most Popular Live Dealer Games in South Africa
Traditional table games and high-energy game shows are popular choices for South African players. I have included the top picks and a little bit about what to expect:
Live Roulette
Live Roulette
- How it plays: Bet on numbers, colours, or groups of numbers
- RTP Range: (European Roulette) 97.3%. 96% with multipliers
- ZAR Limits: R1 – R50,000
- Key Variants: Lightning Roulette, Double Ball, Auto Roulette
- Top Providers: Evolution Live, Pragmatic Play Live, Playtech
Live Blackjack
Live Blackjack
- How it plays: Beat the dealer’s cards without going over 21
- RTP Range: Up to 99.3%
- ZAR Limits: R1 – R200,000
- Key Variants: Infinite Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack, Speed Blackjack
- Top Providers: Evolution Live, Pragmatic Play Live, Playtech
Live Baccarat
Live Baccarat
- How it plays: Bet on banker, player, or tie. Dealer deals 2 cards
- RTP Range: Banker - 98.9 (with commission)
- ZAR Limits: R1 – R250,000
- Key Variants: No Commission Baccarat, Speed Baccarat, Dragon Tiger
- Top Providers: Ezugi, Evolution Live, Pragmatic Play Live
Live Poker
Live Poker
- How it plays: Play against the croupier in different poker formats
- RTP Range: 96 – 99%
- ZAR Limits: R1 – R50,000
- Key Variants: Casino Hold’em. Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker
- Top Providers: Evolution Live, Playtech, Ezugi
Live Game Shows
Live Game Shows
- How it plays: Wheel Spin, Ball Draws, Board Games, or TV-style formats
- RTP Range: 94 – 97%
- ZAR Limits: R1 – R25,000
- Key Variants: Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, Mega Ball, Dream Catcher
- Top Providers: Evolution Live, Pragmatic Play, Playtech
Can You Play Live Casino Games for Free?
Play Live Casino Games for Free
Live dealer games in South Africa rarely include a demo/free play mode, mostly because they require a live dealer. The best way to learn the game before playing for real money is to join a game and watch. Or you can play an RNG version of games like roulette, blackjack, or poker, to understand the rules better.
Where to Play Live Casino Games in South Africa?
There are a lot of South African online casinos that have live dealer games on offer. Below are my top 3 picks for 2025, based on the casino features:
Betway South Africa
Betway has the largest Pragmatic Play and Evolution Live lobbies in South Africa, with all the top games, such as Lightning Roulette and Infinite Blackjack. Minimum bets start at R1, while high rollers can stake up to 6 figures. There are regular Betway promotions, some of which include live casino games.
Considered by many as the number one bookmaker in the country, Betway offers punters an exciting live casino experience that brings the thrill of real gaming straight to your screen.
While they’re mostly recognised for their sports betting, they boast the largest Pragmatic Play and Evolution Live lobbies in South Africa, with all the top games, such as Lightning Roulette and Infinite Blackjack, as well as new favourites like Crazy Time, Satta Matka, MONOPOLY Live, and Deal or No Deal Live.
In addition to that, Betway has hundreds of slot games and a suite of exclusive casino games, providing more excitement and value. It’s not hard to see why they are widely regarded as Mzansi’s leading bookmaker, outshining their competitors in almost every department. Minimum bets start at only R1, while high rollers can stake up to 6 figures.
There are regular Betway promotions, such as SmartSoft, Climb the Leaderboard, Haunted House, Spin Gifts, Weekly Cash Prizes, and more – some of which include live casino games.
Pros
Wide game variety
Reliable payouts
ZAR payment methods
Strong mobile app
Cons
Live games contribution to bonus is low
No free play
Hollywoodbets
At Hollywoodbets, you have access to the best Pragmatic Play Live and Ezugi tables. The online sportsbook and casino is known for tailoring its platform to local players and events and is popular with live casino enthusiasts for its baccarat and roulette titles. When playing with the Hollywoodbets mobile app, you can use data-free mode.
Undoubtedly one of the top-tier bookmakers in South Africa, Hollywoodbets offers the very best in live casino games, having access to the best Pragmatic Play Live and Ezugi tables.
From classics like Blackjack, Baccarat, and Roulette to newer additions such as Ice Fishing, Lightning Roulette, Crazy Time, and Monopoly Big Baller the entertainment is unlimited! At Hollywoodbets, you’ll also find plenty of exclusive casino games such as Live Roulette, Speed Roulette, and Infinite Blackjack, as well as a First Person section with 20+ games.
There really is no shortage of live tables and game shows on this world-class platform, with plenty of great promotions to keep you going. Many of their games have a demo mode, allowing you the opportunity to get a feel of the gameplay without having to lose anything.
This online sportsbook and casino is known for tailoring its platform to local players and events and is popular with live casino enthusiasts for its baccarat and roulette titles. When playing with the Hollywoodbets mobile app, you can use data-free mode.
Pros
Trusted South African brand
Ezugi live casino games
Fast payouts
Sign-up bonus
Cons
Only 1st withdrawal of the day is free
Can’t use sign up bonus on live casino games
World Sports Betting (WSB)
World Sports Betting has jumped on Evolution Live’s premium live dealer titles, with high roller limits on live blackjack and live roulette in South Africa and trending game shows like Crazy Time and Monopoly Live. Live games have stricter bonus terms for live games, but the overall RTP is solid.
World Sports Betting may be known for its sports betting, as its name suggests, but this online bookmaker has a wide variety of live casino games to keep you entertained from Pragmatic Play and Evolution.
They have 47 live roulette games, such as Lucky 6, Power Up, Speed Auto, Double Ball, and Dragonara, to name a few. In addition to that, they have 38 live blackjack games, including Gold Blackjack, Speed Blackjack, VIP Blackjack, and Platinum VIP, as well as hot new games like Easy Blackjack and Bet Stacker.
Enthusiasts can also dive into popular titles such as Teen Patti and Ultimate Texas Hold’em from providers like Betgames. World Sports Betting also has several promotions ongoing, including Drops & Wins, where you can win your share of R126M in daily prizes. Live games have stricter bonus terms, but the overall RTP is solid.
Pros
New, updated website
High limit tables
Wide range of Evolution Live games
No withdrawal limits
Cons
No cryptocurrency deposits
No iOS mobile app
Top Casino Bonuses for Live Games
Most SA casinos don’t offer bonuses that include live dealer games, there are a few that do. The best place to find promotions where you can play with bonus money is the welcome bonus.
- World Sports Betting: WSB’s welcome bonus is a 100% deposit match up to R20,000. Live casino games are eligible.
- Betwinner: The welcome package from BetWinner gives players up to R30,383 deposit bonus and 150 free spins on selected slots. Bonus money can be used to play live casino games from 10 live game providers.
- Playabets: Playabets has 2 welcome bonuses that you can use your bonus funds to bet on live casino games. The 100% first deposit match welcome bonus gives you up to R3,000 and 50 free spins to play on slots such as Lucky Lucky. The Sports and Casino welcome bonus also gives you up to R3,000 to use on sports and casino and live games.
How to Play Live Casino Games in South Africa?
Before you can play live dealer games, you will have to register and deposit at an online casino. To demonstrate how easy the registration process is, I have used Easybet as an example:
Live Casino Games in South Africa Playing Guide
- 1
Go to Easybet and click Join. Fill out the online form with your ID, cell phone, and email. To get the R50 sign up bonus, enter the promo code. Be sure to update your banking details if you're using a bank account payment method. If you want to avoid delays when making your first withdrawal, FICA your account as soon as possible.
Live Casino Games in South Africa Playing Guide
- 2
Go to the Promotions section if you don't get the option to claim the welcome bonus when you registered.
Live Casino Games in South Africa Playing Guide
- 3
Deposit using one of the familiar local deposit methods.
Live Casino Games in South Africa Playing Guide
- 4
Go to the Live Casino section and select the table you want to play. Select your chip value and place bets before the betting timer runs out. Good luck!
Expert Tips for Playing Live Casino Games
In order to be successful at live casino games, it is important to take the time to understand the game, and any unique features variations offer.
If you are not familiar with all the rules and gameplay of the live casino game you want to play, go to the casino floor and look for an RNG version, like video poker. This will help you learn more about the game and possible strategies you can use.
Try the classic versions first and manage your bankroll by placing smaller bets.
Stick to simple games with higher RTP like European Roulette or blackjack.
Once you are comfortable with a game, you can try out strategies like D’Alembert, Martingale, or flat betting.
Set a limit. This not only applies to how much money you are willing to bet, but time and losses as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Live blackjack in South Africa consistently offers the lowest house edge and highest RTP. With the best strategy, the house edge can be as low as 0.5%.
Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, and Mega Ball are very popular with South African players.
Yes, although it is best to check that you have a good signal. Some casinos, like Hollywoodbets and Betway, have a free data section.
Multiplier roulette, such as Lightning Roulette and Quantum Roulette, and the game show Crazy Time, offer big payouts with higher volatility.
Infinite Blackjack from Evolution Live lets you play from R1 and has 99.47% RTP.
Yes, all live casino games have real croupiers who are professionally trained.