The Best Live Casinos in 2024
Live casinos have been around for decades, slowly becoming some of the most-played online casino games in South Africa. Playing a game of live roulette, blackjack or baccarat makes you feel like stepping into the Sun City Casino. But instead of booking a flight, you can do it by simply taking your phone out of your pocket. Discover the top South African live casinos for an amazing gaming experience.
What Are Live Casino Games?
Live dealer games have been a dream for online casino operators since the 1990s but couldn’t become a reality until the mid-2000s. In a nutshell, they are games that bring the real casino experience right to your fingertips. There are real dealers handling cards or spinning roulette wheels in studios, and you can plug into the games from your computer or smartphone whenever you like. You can bet on the games themselves just like you would at Sun City or Montecasino without having to leave the house.
Live casinos have all the games you would expect to see in a real-life casino, and so much more - innovative game formats and unique experiences for you to explore.
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- Large selection of live dealer games
- Live game shows like Football Studio, Dream Catcher, Deal or No Deal
- Asian games like Sic Bo, Fan Tan, Dragon Tiger
- Reliable local brand
- Withdraw at real-life branches
How Live Casinos Work
Live casinos work a lot like traditional, land-based casinos - with a few extra steps.
In front of the camera, there’s a real gaming table with cards, dice or a roulette wheel. Behind the desk, a dealer is handling the cards or spinning the wheel. And this is where technology comes in.
The camera streams the events happening on the table right to your computer. In addition, there’s a control unit that understands what happens on the table and translates it into digital data. This is how live dealer casino games can take your bets and output the results of each round on your screen.
On your side, there’s a digital interface similar to that used by traditional online casino games. You place your bet and wait for the round to end. All this while seeing the person at the other end deal the cards or spin the wheel.
- Established, long-standing brand
- High-quality games
- Live dealer games
- BetGames, Virtual Games
- Aviator available
- Downloadable Android app
- Loyalty & VIP scheme
- No RNG table games (only live dealer games)
- A small number of games
- Almost no casino bonuses
- Welcome bonus for sports betting only
- More than 7,000 games
- "Refer a friend" bonus
- Loyalty & VIP scheme
- Live Dealer Games
- Aviator available
- Small number of deposit methods supported
- Small number of withdrawal methods supported
- Many games are blocked in South Africa
- Terms unclear about loyalty scheme, VIP scheme
- Unique game library
- Live Dealer Games
- Generous welcome bonus
- EFT support
- Crypto deposits and withdrawals
- Frequent promotions
- Small number of games
- Many games don't work with bonus funds
- Some unclear bonus terms
- Self-exclusion only possible via support
- No ownership or license information available
Games You Can Play At Live Casinos
What games can you play at live casinos?
The Classics
First of all, there are the classics - blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. These games have been casino staples for centuries, and they are among the most beloved games in real-life casinos even today.
The games have many variants you can choose from:
- Roulette variants:
- Lightning Roulette
- Double Ball Roulette
- Blackjack variants:
- First-Person Blackjack
- Infinite Blackjack
- Baccarat variants:
- Speed Baccarat
- Baccarat Squeeze
- Live dealer Craps
- Casino poker variants
- Casino Hold’em
- Three Card Poker
Lottery-type Games
The state lottery draws only happen once a week. At live casinos, in turn, draws are held non-stop - and the variety of games to bet on is amazing:
- Mega Ball
- Mega Ball First-Person
Wheel of Fortune and Game Shows
Game shows are making a comeback in live casinos. Formats that were TV staples in the past have found their way to online casinos thanks to live dealer games. They look and feel familiar and give you the chance to be part of the game:
- Crazy Time and various “Wheel of Fortune” games
- Deal or No Deal
- Dream Catches
- Mega Ball
- Football Studio
Asian Games
There are quite a few games that made a name for themselves in Asian casinos and conquered the world thanks to the Internet. You can try many of them in South African live casinos, too:
- Sic Bo
- Fan Tan
- Dragon Tiger
Innovative Live Casino Experiences
Live games go beyond traditional games to offer unique and entertaining experiences. They make you part of the game and give you a chance to win in ways you may not expect. You can try several of these at South African live casinos:
- Sweet Bonanza Candyland
- Mega Ball
- Cash or Crash
- Established, long-standing brand
- High-quality games
- Live dealer games
- BetGames, Virtual Games
- Aviator available
- Downloadable Android app
- Loyalty & VIP scheme
- No RNG table games (only live dealer games)
- A small number of games
- Almost no casino bonuses
- Welcome bonus for sports betting only
- More than 7,000 games
- "Refer a friend" bonus
- Loyalty & VIP scheme
- Live Dealer Games
- Aviator available
- Small number of deposit methods supported
- Small number of withdrawal methods supported
- Many games are blocked in South Africa
- Terms unclear about loyalty scheme, VIP scheme
- Unique game library
- Live Dealer Games
- Generous welcome bonus
- EFT support
- Crypto deposits and withdrawals
- Frequent promotions
- Small number of games
- Many games don't work with bonus funds
- Some unclear bonus terms
- Self-exclusion only possible via support
- No ownership or license information available
Benefits of Playing at Live Casinos
Should you play at live casinos? Will it be good for you? A lot depends on what you are looking for in your gambling journey.
Live dealer games are certainly fun - but don’t expect to play them free of charge. As opposed to online slots and other RNG-powered games, live dealer games are not available in free demo mode anywhere. So, whenever you want to play them, you’ll need to do so for real money bets.
Why should you play live dealer games for real money? Here are a few reasons:
- Almost like the real thing: live dealer games are the next best thing to going to an actual casino
- Immersive experience: playing live games is much more immersive than playing blackjack or baccarat at a traditional casino
- New game variants: many live games come with a new twist on classic games like roulette or blackjack
- Be part of the game: with live game shows, you can finally feel that you’re part of the game
How to Choose the Right Live Casino
Live dealer casino games are only available at selected online casinos - and not all of them are created equal. To get the best experience, you’ll have to find the best live casino:
- Good reputation: The casino should have a good reputation. Check out our casino reviews before trusting a casino with your time and money.
- Decent game variety: the best live casinos have games from at least a couple of studios.
- Good bonuses: ideally, there should be a dedicated bonus for live casino games. If there’s none, a good cash bonus or deposit match is a must.
- Meaningful responsible gaming tools: so the game stays fun.
How to Make the Most Of Your Live Casino Experience
Live casinos can give you an amazing and meaningful casino experience but you should also do your part to make the most of it.
Manage Your Bankroll Wisely
Good money management is key whenever you play at an online casino. You always want to be mindful of your money when you gamble:
- Always play within your means! Never play with money you can’t afford to lose
- Have a budget and stick to it! Decide your bets based on what your goal is: the thrill of a big bet or to play in the long term. Small bets can be as fun as big ones - and you’ll get to play more!
- Never chase your losses! Don’t try to win back the money you lost by betting more and more. This will almost always lead to more losses.
- Set your limits and stick to them! Decide how big a win is enough, and how much of a loss is still acceptable. Stop playing when you reach either of these limits.
Understand the Game Rules
The best way to avoid surprises while playing at live casinos is to learn and understand the rules of the games you’re about to play. Most casino games have simple rules that are easy to learn. To make it easier, you can even practice by playing the RNG versions of the table games for free - the basic rules are the same, after all.
Make Use of Bonuses at Live Casinos
Whenever you can, make use of live casino bonuses. These don’t happen too often, so always be on the lookout for them. In most South African online casinos, the bonuses will be focused on slot machines - so when you stumble upon a bonus aimed at live dealer games, you should jump on it. But not before studying its terms, conditions, and wagering requirements.
- Established, long-standing brand
- High-quality games
- Live dealer games
- BetGames, Virtual Games
- Aviator available
- Downloadable Android app
- Loyalty & VIP scheme
- No RNG table games (only live dealer games)
- A small number of games
- Almost no casino bonuses
- Welcome bonus for sports betting only
- More than 7,000 games
- "Refer a friend" bonus
- Loyalty & VIP scheme
- Live Dealer Games
- Aviator available
- Small number of deposit methods supported
- Small number of withdrawal methods supported
- Many games are blocked in South Africa
- Terms unclear about loyalty scheme, VIP scheme
- Unique game library
- Live Dealer Games
- Generous welcome bonus
- EFT support
- Crypto deposits and withdrawals
- Frequent promotions
- Small number of games
- Many games don't work with bonus funds
- Some unclear bonus terms
- Self-exclusion only possible via support
- No ownership or license information available
Curious about diving into the world of live dealer games? Discover our top-rated live casinos for an unparalleled gaming experience, carefully selected to enhance your play and maximize your fun.
Live Casinos FAQ
What is a live casino?
A live casino is an online casino where you can play live dealer games.
Are live casino games legal in South Africa?
It’s complicated. Live casino games are considered events you bet on, so, according to South African regulations, they are allowed. You can find live dealer games and number bets or BetGames at several high-profile South African casinos.
How to play live casino games?
Each game has its own set of rules. Make sure to learn them before starting to play for real money. Otherwise, you’ll need to log into your account, head over to the “Live Casino” or “Live Games” section, choose a game and play, much like you would do in a traditional online casino game.
How do live casinos work?
They work by combining live video streaming with a digital interface so that they can take bets. You can follow the games as they happen, place bets, and collect your winnings from the comfort of your home.
Can I play live casino games for real money?
Yes, you can. All you need to do is register at a live casino, make a deposit, and play.
What is the best live casino game to win money?
In general, blackjack is considered the casino game that gives you the best chances to actually win.