Best Live Poker Casinos in South Africa 2025 – Tested by Experts
Since poker first started being played in casinos and backrooms in America in the 1800s, it is a game that has constantly evolved, and today there are several variations around. It is only natural that poker would make its appearance at an online casino, and today, I am going to walk you through everything live dealer poker offers you.
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Top Live Poker Casinos in South Africa
Finding the right live poker casino can be a minefield. I have tested a lot of South African casinos, and there are some that stand out more than others. Next, I will take you through my top South African live poker casinos.
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: UK, Malta, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Africa, Portugal, Ireland, Poland, France, USA
When it comes to live dealer poker, Betway is the best all-round option. When I tested live poker betting at Betway, I had access to a sizeable selection of Evolution poker tables like Live Casino Hold’em, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud Poker, and Three-card Poker. There are also RNG-based poker games that I can use to practice my strategies.
Not only does Betway South Africa have a global reputation, but it's also licensed by the Western Cape Gaming and Racing Board. You can deposit with vouchers, EFTs, cards, and even cryptocurrency with CryptoPay on your Android or Apple device using the Betway mobile app.
I didn't get the traditional welcome bonus when I signed up. A coupon package gave me free spins on Hot Hot Fruits, free crosses on Chicken Crossings, and a R10 free bet so I could explore the site better.
Pros
Cons
Ad• 18+• New customers• Max free bet €100• Free bet available on losing settlement of qualifying bet• 50 bonus spins creditted on placement of qualifying bet• Offer valid for 7 days from account creation• Full terms and conditions apply
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: South Africa, UK
Even though the poker catalog is a little smaller than on offshore platforms, South Africans love its reliability, trust, and local licensing.
My experience with Live Casino Hold'em, 3-Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold'em has been great. I liked the fast-betting windows and the professional dealers. For video poker fans, there's also Evolution Video Poker First Person.
Withdrawals are fast, and the mobile site works on most phones, so you can play on data and Wi-Fi, and some games are data-free. You'll find some casino reload offers you can use for live tables, but the bonuses are mostly for sports and slots.
It's great for South Africans who don't want to share their banking info because Hollywoodbets accepts Zapper, Blu Voucher, OTT Vouchers, or 1Vouchers, as well as a few cryptocurrency options.
Pros
Cons
No deposit required, open an account and receive an R25 sign-up bonus and 50 Free Spins, within 24 hours of registration wager bonus amount once on sports bets with odds of 5/10 (0.5) or higher, Before withdrawal wager any winnings from Free Spins 5x on the same slots.
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: South Africa
Not all players are looking for high stakes; there are a lot who just want to join in a live poker game with low betting options, like those that I found at YesPlay. BetGames has some fantastic poker tables with stakes as low as R1 a hand. There are multiple fast-paced mini poker variants, plus Casino Hold'em, Caribbean Stud, and Ultimate Texas Hold'em from Evolution.
YesPlay lets you make deposits with 15 major ZAR payment methods. Withdrawals usually show up in your account in 12-24 hours. There's an 8x wagering requirement on the live casino welcome bonus at YesPlay.
You can get the mobile apps on iOS and Android, and all the games and sports betting options look great, even on smaller screens. As well as email and live chat channels, I was able to speak to customer support on WhatsApp.
Pros
Cons
#Ad• 18+• Accept bonus offer• make deposit > R20• 7x wagering•7 day limit• Full terms and conditions apply
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: Kenya, Curaçao
JackTop Live Studios, TVBet, Evolution, and 7Mojos studios have given BetWinner the advantage of being able to provide South Africans with poker variants that are otherwise hard to find. Bet Winner’s live casino is massive, and there are 100s of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Asian games, and game shows to explore.
There's also a great variety of betting limits, starting at R20, and high rollers can bet up to R400,000.
All kinds of payment methods are available for betting, from EFTs to e-wallets to payment systems.
You can also use your crypto wallets with BetWinner, which accepts over 40 cryptocurrencies. In addition to the welcome bonus, you can get casino cashbacks and more.
Pros
Cons
18+• Min deposit of 1.49• 5x wagering• Must be min 3 accumulator bets• Min odds on bet of 1.40• Bonus must be used within 30 days
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: South Africa
If you are new to live poker, Gbets offers the perfect platform to hone your skills. The poker offering is powered by Evolution and Creedz, with staples like Casino Hold’em, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 3-Card Poker, and Caribbean Stud, which have rules that are easy to understand.
My favourite thing about testing was how easy it was to switch between tables and how user-friendly the betting controls were.
The straightforward interface makes this a great entry-level casino for players just learning live poker basics.
Deposits can be made with cards, vouchers, EFTs, and Apple Pay, with deposits starting as low as R10 or as high as R1,000,000.
Once you have made your first deposit, you are rewarded with up the R16,000 in bonus fund, 50 free spins, and a R50 free bet.
Pros
Cons
#ad• 18+• full terms and conditions apply
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: South Africa
Playabets is a sportsbook and casino with smooth HD poker streaming and a great mobile design. Evolution's live casino section has all the classics, with Live Casino Hold'em and 3-Card Poker being particularly good.
Their mobile betting app is super responsive, even on slow connections. Playabets has some balanced variants, so it's a good middle ground for South African live poker players.
They accept local payments like vouchers, EFT, and PayFast, so it's easy to deposit and withdraw in ZAR.
A 100% match welcome bonus up to R3,000 and 50 free spins are on the way, plus weekly reloads and cashback.
Pros
Cons
18+• First deposit of R50 to R1000• Max bonus is R1000• Full terms and conditions apply
How Live Dealer Poker Works
How Live Dealer Poker Works
If you are new to live casino, you could be wondering how it works. Basically, it is interactive live streaming. Dealers deal the cards, just as they would at your local casino. The magic comes thanks to the power of technology that allows us to interact and place bets in real time.
Unlike slots and table games found in the main casino lobby, the outcome relies on physical cards, not Random Number Generators (RNG).
Most live poker games are player versus dealer, instead of the more traditional player versus player setup, making the games easier to learn. Just like RNG-based games, live poker is also regulated for fairness.
All casino games have unique game numbers allocated to them, are traceable, and there are cameras and sensors to make sure that play is transparent.
Live Poker Rules & Hand Rankings
Different live poker variants will have different rules, which is what sets them apart. The most common rules are the Casino Hold’em rules.
Basic Rules
Basic Rules
- Once bets, or antes, have been placed, the croupier deals 2 hands, with 2 cards each, and a 3-card flop.
- You then get to decide whether to call or fold.
- Two more community cards are dealt.
- The best 5-card hand wins
Poker Hand Rankings
Here is a simplified table explaining typical winning hands and the payouts.
Hand | Description | Typical Payout |
Royal Flush | A-K-Q-J-10 same suit | 100:1+ |
Straight Flush | 5 in sequence (i.e. 5-6-7-8-9), same suit | 50:1 |
Four of a Kind | Four identical ranks (4 kings) | 10:1 |
Full House | 3 of a kind + pair | 3:1 |
Flush | Five cards, same suit | 2:1 |
Straight | Sequence (4-5-6-7-8) | 1:1 |
Three of a Kind | 3 cards with the same value | 1:1 |
Two Pair | Two pairs | 1:1 |
One Pair | One pair | 1:1 |
High Card | Highest card | 1:1 |
Main Live Poker Variants
There are too many live poker variations to mention in detail here, but one thing they have in common. They all follow established poker hand rankings.
Casino Hold’em
Casino Hold’em
This is the most popular live poker variant in South Africa. It is similar to Texas Hold’em, but the rules are simpler. An unlimited number of people can play, and the RTP is around 87.84%.
The objective is to beat the dealer by having a better 5-card poker hand than they do. You are both dealt cards. 5 Community cards are placed on the table, which help you to make up a winning hand. Bets, or antes, are made before any cards are dealt. The deck is replaced after every hand. Casino Hold’em is fast-paced and suits beginners and pros alike.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Ultimate Texas Hold’em is played with a standard pack of 52 cards. Before the cards are dealt, an Ante and Blind bet are placed. For the adventurous at heart, you can all make a Trips Bonus Bet, which pays out on a range of poker hands, regardless of the dealer’s hand.
When a player makes an early Play bet, they can raise three or four times their Ante. Waiting until after the Flop or the River only lets them raise x2 or x1. Because each player can only raise once per game, the earlier they raise, the more they can risk. Expect an RTP of 97.8%
Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud Poker
This poker variation has an RTP of 98.19%, has extra bonuses, and even the chance of winning a progressive jackpot. The Player is dealt five cards each, and the dealer must have an Ace and a King or higher to qualify. Before the dealer shows his full hand, you must raise or fold.
As well as betting on the main game against the dealer, the optional '5-1 Bonus' bet and Progressive Jackpot side bet give you a chance to win no matter what happens. The '-1 Bonus bet is an optional side bet where the player combines their own five cards with the dealer's face-up card to make the best five-card hand they can, with a potential bonus win of 1,000 to 1.
Three Card Poker & Teen Patti
Three Card Poker & Teen Patti
These are 2 quick games that are well-suited for people who are looking for the excitement of fast-paced games. As the name suggests, in Three Card Poker, the player is dealt 3 face-up cards. The players are then given the chance to bet again, and the croupier deals the House cards.
Three Card Poker also has Ante bets for straights, an extra pair bet, and a 6 Card Bonus bet, which carry odds of 1,000:1. Teen Patti is an Asian version of 3 Card Poker with very similar rules and betting strategies. Ezugi and Evolution Live offer this Indian poker game.
Other popular Evolution & Ezugi Games
Other popular Evolution & Ezugi Games
This isn’t where the list of live poker titles ends. The biggest live poker providers are Evolution Live and Ezugi, but that are other live studios as well, such as 7Mojos and Betgame. Once you are familiar with how to play live poker, why not give some of these a try:
- Side Bet Poker
- Texas Hold’em Bonus
- 2-Hand Hold’em
- Super Andar Bahar
- One-Card Poker
- 3-Card Brag
How to Choose the Best Live Poker Casinos
Before we recommend an online casino, we test the casino and review all its features to make sure that you can play live poker with confidence. This is what we look for:
- 1
Licensing & Safety: Casinos need to be licensed in jurisdictions where SA players are accepted, and they've got to be fair.
- 2
Variant Depth: Casinos we recommend must also offer live poker and other live dealer games. The casino lobby must be well-established with a good selection of slots, instant games, and lotteries.
- 3
ZAR Banking & Payout Speeds: Support for deposits and withdrawals in South African rands, with methods to suit all types of players, and realistic processing times.
- 4
Bonus Suitability: We look at the welcome bonus and ongoing bonuses that provide rewards for playing live poker games.
- 5
User Experience: Performance on mobile and desktop, good streaming quality without long buffers for live dealers.
- 6
Reputation & Support: Responsive Customer service with at least live chat and email, and terms and conditions that are clear.
Live Poker Tournaments and Events in South Africa
South Africa is poker heritage. It previously hosted major international events such as the Poker News Cup at Montecasino, WPT events at Emperor's Palace, and three World Series of Poker (WSOP) Africa tournaments (2010, 2012, 2013) at Emerald Casino in Vanderbijlpark. The local Sunbet Poker Tour is a popular local poker tournament.
There's a lot more player-versus-dealer action in online live poker than in traditional multiplayer poker, and as a result, live poker tournaments can be hard to find. However, SA sites like Betway and YesPlay occasionally run tournament-style promotions, leaderboard contests, and live-table prize drops. If you are a VIP player, you could receive an invitation to join a live poker tournament. If not, keep an eye on your favourite casino’s casino lobby and social media accounts.
How to Join Online Poker Tournaments
- Open the poker/live casino lobby
- Register for the event
- Pay the buy-in or join a freeroll
- Follow the countdown and rules
Live Poker Strategies
The key to playing smart live poker is discipline and understanding the odds.
Beginners should fold weak starting hands, especially low unpaired cards, and call when they have strong cards.
Trips and side bets are exciting, but they have a higher house edge.
While you're learning, set session limits and stick to smaller stakes.
Make sure you're practicing the right strategy for the game you're playing. Neither Casino Hold'em nor Ultimate Texas Hold 'em has optimal play charts that can reduce the house edge a lot.
Practice with RNG-based or first-person versions if you are not familiar with the versions you are playing, if they are available.
How to Play Live Poker for Real Money
If you want to play live poker for real money, your first step is to sign up at a trusted, licensed South African live poker casino. Next, I will guide you through registering at an online casino, all the way to placing your first live poker bet. In this example, I have used Betway South Africa.
How to Play Live Poker for Real Money
- 1
Head to your chosen casino and click on Register/Sign Up. Registration is easy. Just fill out the form online.
Head to your chosen casino and click on Register Sign Up
- 2
Make sure you claim any welcome bonuses before you deposit, if the casino offers one. You'll get your Betway sign up bonus automatically.
Make sure you claim any welcome bonuses before you deposit
- 3
You can find live poker by clicking on the casino tab and scrolling, or searching for poker in the search bar.
You can find live poker by clicking on the casino tab
- 4
Once you have selected the game you want to play, check the rules, and click the “?” symbol. Next, set your bet size and click on any side bets you want to put on before the time runs out.
SportsBoom Suggests
It's tough to beat Betway's unmatched stability and the most comprehensive library when it comes to live poker in South Africa. The best international poker variety can be found at 1xBet, while South Africa's most trusted and friendly casino sites can be found at Hollywoodbets and YesPlay. Play live poker responsibly by choosing licensed casinos, managing your bankroll smartly, and choosing licensed casinos. And lastly, good luck!
FAQs
You won’t be able to play live poker for free, but you can practice with RNG-based poker games and video poker.
YesPlay, Gvets, and Playabets offer some of the lowest stakes for live poker.
Your winnings depend on stakes, hand rankings, side bets, and table limits. Some side bets pay up to 100:1. Some Caribbean Stud poker versions have a progressive jackpot.
If you are at a licensed casino, like the ones on our list, you can consider them safe.
All the casinos that we have recommended have either mobile-optimised sites or you can download the mobile app.