Poker has gone from a popular casino game to becoming a global online phenomenon. Millions of people around the world enjoy poker nowadays wherever and whenever they please, and South Africans are no different. In this guide we’ll tell you the very best real money poker betting sites, and tell you everything else you need to know about playing online poker in South Africa.
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Top Rated
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- Highly respected international brand
- No-limit cash games across various formats
- 24/7 support for poker players
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Best South African Online Poker Sites by Category
There’s a lot to consider when weighing up how good an online poker site is, and much will depend on what type of poker player you are and what you are looking for.
Naturally, with such a variation in poker sites, some will be better than others in certain categories. For example, some sites will offer high-quality mobile poker apps designed to provide the best options for players who like to game on the move. Other sites may be best known for their range and quality of bonuses, their excellent customer support, or their selection of poker games.
Here are some of the best sites for online poker in South Africa for each category.
| 🏆 Best for Beginners | SportingBet |
| 📊 Loyalty Programme | Sportaza |
| 💰 Best for Bonuses | Juicy Stakes |
| 📺 Best Video Poker | WinABet365 |
| ⭐ Range of Poker Games | BetOnline |
| 📱 Editor’s Choice | Bet365 |
| 🧩 High Poker Traffic | Everygame |
| 💰 Best Rakeback | Silversands |
| 🔁 Best Software | Yonibet |
| ⚽ Variety of Deposit Options | Yonibet |
Best Online Poker Sites Reviewed
As mentioned in the previous section, poker sites can vary a great deal in the quality of their product and the range of options they provide for South African players. We’ve analyzed all of the main betting platforms in South Africa, and we feel that these are the very best online poker sites you can find right now.
1. Bet365 – #1 Overall Site for Online Poker in South Africa
Bet365 isn’t the oldest brand on this list, but it’s our vote for the most impressive. Since launched in the Midlands of England back in 2000, its popularity has exploded. Nowadays, it’s a dominant worldwide brand, not just for sports betting, but for online poker too.
We’re pleased to say that fans of the game can play online poker in South Africa using the Bet365 platform. It doesn’t quite have the widest selection of games, but the likes of Hold ’em and Omaha are still covered. Bet365 provides excellent traffic for these games, is an extremely trustworthy and well-respected company, and supports you with top-notch service. Add in superior mobile apps and solid promotions too, and you can see why Bet365 was our number one pick.
What We Like: What We Don’t Like:
2. Boylesports – Play Poker Online With a Reliable Brand
Founded back in 1982 as a real-world bookmaker, Boylesports is one of the best-known names in online gambling. Like many betting operators, it has added casino and poker products to its offering over the years.
Licensed by the UKGC, Boylesports is one of the safest and best online poker sites in the industry. Although the platform is not aimed directly at South African players, it provides a range of poker options that are popular in the country, through both their main site and a dedicated poker app. The latter is free to download, and very easy to install and start using.
The options here include plenty of tournaments and cash games, along with variations such as Six Plus Hold ’em, Twister Jackpot, and Speed Poker. There are also plenty of player friendly features such as late registration, synchronised breaks, and Daily Missions.
What We Like: What We Don’t Like:
3. Sportaza – Best Online Poker Site for Bonuses
It’s fair to say that Sportaza doesn’t create the best first impression, with its dated appearance. The quicker you get past this though, the better. Once you have, you’ll find one of the best (and most generous) sites for online poker in South Africa.
Sportaza is particularly good for video poker, with the likes of Hold ’em and Five Card Draw being well-covered, along with several less-heralded variations. Where Sportaza arguably shines brightest for fans of online poker in South Africa, however, is in its promotions. These include a valuable VIP program, a cashback deal, a weekly reload offer, and more.
What We Like: What We Don’t Like:
4. SilverSands Online Poker – Best Variety of Poker Games
SilverSands is one of the longest-established names in the online casino world. In fact, SilverSands was set up back in 1999, and has since developed an excellent reputation amongst South African players.
Based in Cyprus and licensed by the Khanawake Gambling Commission, its online poker room is a good all-round site. It features daily tournaments, a R100,000 jackpot, and anonymous tables. There’s also a host of regular bonuses, such as the Bad Beat Bonus, the Weekly Rake Back, and a Refer a Friend promotion. Finally, this brand is targeted squarely at players of online poker in South Africa, and lets you play directly in rand.
What We Like: What We Don’t Like:
5. EveryGame – Top for Poker Tournaments
EveryGame is a US-based online casino and poker site. Its history dates back to the 1980s, while its first online venture was in 1996. Registered in Curacao, it offers a global casino and poker platform which is popular with South African players.
Poker fans will appreciate the EveryGame dedicated poker section that offers a range of features and bonuses, as well as access to events such as Star Tournaments, the Vegas Millionaire Maker, and the Wipeout series. There are plentiful promotions on offer for regular players too, and a fast and effective payment system, combined with excellent customer support.
What We Like: What We Don’t Like:
Best Online Poker Sites South Africa Compared
When it comes to online poker sites in South Africa, there really is a huge range of choice for players. This means that you should definitely be able to find a site that fits your particular needs, whether that is based on game type, bonus size, features, customer service, or payments.
Since poker is a game that can offer plenty of variation, the best poker sites offer more than simply Texas Hold’em. In fact, although this form of the game remains the most high-profile form of poker, other variations such as Omaha and 7-Card Stud are gaining in popularity. To help you find the best online poker sites that offer the ideal range of games for your needs, we’ve put together this table to illustrate your options.
| Poker Site | Texas Hold ’em | Omaha Hi | Omaha Hi-lo | 7 card Stud | 6+ Hold’em | 5 Card Draw | Bitcoin Deposit? |
| Bet365 |  |
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| BoyleSports | |
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| Sportaza | |
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| SilverSands | |
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| Everygame | |
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| SportingBet | |
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| BetOnline | |
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| Juicy Stakes | |
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| WinABet365 | |
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| Yonibet | |
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What to Consider When Choosing a Poker Site
So, you’re looking for a new site for online poker in South Africa? There is a lot to consider when you’re scouring the internet for a new platform, and much will depend on your particular preferences. These, however, are five factors that all poker fans should consider when looking for a new brand.
- Game Selection
As we saw in the previous section, there are many different types of poker. You want to be sure that the site you choose offers your particular preferred variant. You should also check out the range of poker tournaments and tables that you can play at a site, to make sure that it will fit with your needs. Everygame Casino steps up brilliantly here, whether you are a fan of small-stakes cash games or tournaments with big prizes.
- Bonuses and Rewards
Most South African online poker sites will provide a welcome bonus to new players, and that will obviously be an important part of your decision when you choose a site. You should also look at the range of bonuses and promotions offered to regular players, though. Are there frequent bonuses for deposits or for playing at a certain level? What about the rewards program? In short, will your loyalty be rewarded by the brand, if you do indeed sign up and start spending money? This is certainly the case with Juicy Stakes, which excels in this area.
- Site Usability
Site usability is only partly to do with design. Yes, a nicely designed site that is easy on the eye can be a bonus, but a more important consideration is the site layout. How easy is it to navigate from one type of game or tournament to another? Can you access the account features, customer support, banking, and other sections quickly and easily? These are important considerations when choosing a site, and SportingBet is a particularly beginner-friendly option.
- Payment Options
Having access to fast and reliable payment methods, with minimal delays and minimal fees, is an important part of choosing a good online poker site. Some sites offer a wider range of payment options, both for deposits and withdrawals, than others, and you should check this out in detail before you sign up. Sites that offer popular South African banking options, and rand transactions – like SilverSands Casino – are also worth checking out. These can provide more convenience to South African players, and save you money on currency conversions.
- Brand Reputation
Trust and reputation are important in the modern online gambling world. Make sure that any site you sign up with is fully licensed and regulated and, where possible, do some research online to find out what other South African players think of the site. Avoid sites that have a reputation for slow payouts, withholding winnings, poor customer support, and other issues. Those with proven track records – like Bet365 and BoyleSports – are vastly preferable.
Why Online Poker Traffic Matters
When playing online poker, there is one thing you must have in order to have the finest experience possible: people. Poker is a social game, and people enjoy playing it not only because it is entertaining, but also because it allows them to interact with others.
More importantly, if there aren’t enough individuals playing poker at a particular site, your odds of winning and your selections will be severely limited. ‘Traffic’ simply means the number of players who visit a website. If the site’s traffic is high, it suggests that a large number of players are actively participating in the online poker games available. If traffic is low, you may have trouble finding suitable opponents.
The flow of traffic changes throughout the day. Every website has “peak hours,” when traffic is at its highest. Playing poker at that time of day means there will be a lot of games going on. Furthermore, traffic can vary depending on the sort of poker you are playing. The likes of Hold ‘Em and Omaha will typically be vastly more popular, for example, than less-heralded games like Badugi.
To ensure you maximise your playing options, here are three of the top sites for online poker in South Africa that can usually be relied upon for high levels of traffic:
- Bet365 – €365 Bonus For New Players
- SilverSands – R888 Sign Up Offer
- EveryGame – 200% Match, Up to $1,000
Bonuses on the Best Online Poker Sites
Everyone likes a bonus, and poker players are no different. Sites for online poker in South Africa offer a wide variety of bonuses and promotions, designed to get you to sign up or to use a site more often.
As with all promotions though, it is important to be aware of some of the terms and conditions associated. Here are some of the most important factors to bear in mind when evaluating a deal.
Turnover Requirement
The most unpopular condition attached to poker site bonuses is undoubtedly the turnover (or ‘rollover’) requirement. This condition refers to the number of times that you have to wager the amount of your bonus before you are able to withdraw it. The turnover requirement is usually expressed in the form of a number, such as x10 or x30, with the number referring to the multiple of the rollover.
For example, if you claim a R1000 bonus with a x15 rollover requirement, that means you will have to wager the full amount of the bonus 15 times, for a total of R15,000, before you can withdraw it. While this is designed to ensure that players don’t simply claim a bonus and then never use a site again, it is never popular with poker players. When you claim a bonus, you should always analyse the rollover requirement before signing up, including the time frame involved.
Type of Bonuses for New Customers
South African online poker sites are always trying to attract new customers, and many of their bonuses are aimed at this section of the market. The standard bonus for a new customer is a Deposit Match.
With this bonus, you will be required to make an initial deposit which will then be matched by the casino, up to a certain maximum limit. For example, on a 100% Deposit Match bonus up to R10,000, you’d get another R10,000 as a bonus if you initially deposited that amount.
Other bonuses may also be available to new customers, including promotions designed to get you to try out a certain poker game. You may even find a No Deposit Bonus that rewards you with bonus funds for opening a new account, although these tend to be smaller than Deposit Bonuses.
Top 5 Bonuses for Playing Poker Online for Money
We certainly recommend being careful with bonuses for online poker in South Africa, particularly regarding the T&Cs. That said, these deals can still be extremely lucrative. Welcome offers, in particular, can get your new account off to a great start, with these being five of the best examples right now:
- BoyleSports – 100% Match, Up to €1,000
- BetOnline – 100% First Deposit Bonus, Up to $1,000
- Juicy Stakes – $1,000 Poker Bonus
- Everygame Casino – 200% Match, Up to $1,000
- Bet365 – €365 Bonus For New Players
SA Poker Online Software
For more experienced players of online poker in South Africa, finding sites that use the best software is crucial.
Why should you care about poker software? For starters, using a platform that you feel comfortable with can help your overall state of mind, and therefore boost your odds of winning. If the software drives you crazy, and you think it’s buggy, you’re probably not going to give it your all. If the software operates smoothly and is easy to use, you will feel more at ease and be more likely to perform at your best. Naturally, a platform which crashes frequently is the worst-case scenario, since a poorly-timed crash could cost you a big win.
Playtech and Microgaming are big names in the online gambling world. They have also created two of the most popular pieces of poker software: iPoker and MPN respectively. Entain also provides widely-used poker software, and is another great option when you’re just getting started.
After you’ve played at a few different poker sites, you’ll quickly have a sense of the different poker softwares’ strengths and shortcomings. Or, to both save yourself some time and get access to a wider range of games, you can opt for a poker site up front which carries games from a whole range of different developers. WinABet365 and Yonibet are both excellent choices, if you favour this approach.
Is it Safe to Play Poker Online in South Africa?
Online security and safety are always important. That’s particularly true when you are playing at online poker sites, which will handle both your personal data and your financial details.
It is not possible to make an overall judgment on the safety of online poker, as it depends entirely on which sites you use. Regulated online poker sites with a good reputation will offer a safe and secure playing environment. If you use unlicensed sites though, you are opening yourself up to the risk that the games you are playing may be rigged. Not only that, but you might not get your money if you win, and your personal data and financial details may be stolen.
Following these three simple guidelines can ensure that your gaming with online poker in South Africa is as safe as possible:
- Only play with regulated and licensed poker sites
- Check a brand’s reputation online before signing up
- Check a site’s security credentials – including evidence of encryption technology and any third party accreditation – which should usually be displayed on the home page
What are the Best Sites for Real Money Poker in South Africa?
Playing real money poker at South African online casinos is the best way to turn your hobby or interest into a profitable or successful one. Don’t forget, however, that becoming a winning poker player takes time, study, dedication, and a lot of hard work.
Before you start to play with real money, it is often a good idea to try some of the free poker games available at some sites to develop your skills and get a feel for the game. When you’re sure that you’re ready to play for real, here are three of the best real money poker rooms for South African players:
- Bet365 – €365 Bonus For New Players
- BoyleSports – 100% Match, Up to €1,000
- Sportaza – €100 First Deposit Bonus
Online Poker Real Money Mobile Apps
It’s crucial for poker players to have the freedom to play whenever and from wherever they desire. As such, many players choose to play online poker for real money on their mobile devices, whether they are using an Android device or an iPhone/iPad.
This is why many current sites for online poker in South Africa have developed online poker real money mobile apps. This can usually be downloaded directly from the poker site, and used on a smartphone or tablet. Apps have the advantage of being easy to both acquire and use, and tend to perform better than the mobile version of a brand’s regular site.
Whether you use an app or a mobile site, you want the poker experience to be as smooth as possible. Logging in, finding a suitable game, taking a seat at the table and starting to play should all be highly straightforward. You also want to ensure that the mobile experience is stable and reliable, and that you can access all areas of a poker site without difficulty.
Naturally, some brands do better in these areas than others. Here are three of the very best online poker real money betting apps available in South Africa right now:
- Bet365 – €365 Bonus For New Players
- BoyleSports – 100% Match, Up to €1,000
- Everygame Casino – 200% Match, Up to $1,000
Online Poker in South Africa – Final Thoughts
It’s not hard to see how online poker in South Africa has become so enormously popular. This is a game which is easy to learn, and hard to master. If you do indeed manage to improve at it though, you could be in for some big winnings.
In this article, we’ve told you everything you need to know to begin playing online poker in South Africa. All you need to do now is pick one of our recommended brands, create an account, make a deposit, and start enjoying this fantastic game for yourself.
#1 Online Online Poker Room in South Africa
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- Highly respected international brand
- No-limit cash games across various formats
- 24/7 support for poker players
FAQ
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Joe Halliday
Joe Halliday
