Best live blackjack casinos in South Africa for 2024
Live dealer blackjack is the closest you can get to sitting at a blackjack table without leaving your home. Find the best live blackjack casinos to play in South Africa today.
Top live blackjack casinos sites in South Africa
- 1Springbok CasinoRead reviewWelcome Package
150% up to R11,500
Games: 300+
Win rate: 97.75%
Payout speed: 2-3 business days
Pros and cons
South African theme and focus
Supports fiat and crypto payments
No live casino
Bonus offer
Wagering requirements 30x Valid for 30 days Payment options
- 2Yeti CasinoRead reviewWelcome Package
100% up to R3,333 + 50 free spins
Games: 3,000+
Win rate: 97.01%
Payout speed: 0-1 business day
Pros and cons
3,000+ casino games
Integrated sportsbook
Free play not supported
Bonus offer
Wagering requirements 40x Valid for 30 days Max cash out $100 Eligible games Joker Pro, Starburst Payment options
- 3Yako CasinoRead reviewWelcome Package
100% up to R999 + 99 free spins
Games: 1,000+
Win rate: 96.6%
Payout speed: 1 business day
Pros and cons
Excellent welcome package
Regular free spins offers
Limited table games
Bonus offer
Wagering requirements 40x Payment options
- 4Yebo CasinoRead reviewWelcome Package
R12,000 + 35 free spins
Games: 200+
Win rate: 97.64%
Payout speed: 1-3 business days
Pros and cons
Aimed specifically at South African players
24/7 live chat
No live casino category
Bonus offer
Wagering requirements 40x Valid for 30 days Payment options
- 5Thunderbolt CasinoRead reviewWelcome Package
Up to R10,000
Games: 300+
Win rate: 96.52%
Payout speed: 2-3 business days
Pros and cons
Generous welcome package
Regular promotions and offers
No live casino games
Bonus offer
Wagering requirements 30x Payment options
- 6African GrandRead reviewWelcome Package
200% up to R4,000
Games: 200+
Win rate: 96.45%
Payout speed: 2 business days
Pros and cons
Great welcome package
Various ongoing promotions
No live casino games
Bonus offer
Wagering requirements 40x Valid for 30 days Payment options
- 7Punt CasinoRead reviewWelcome Package
150% bonus + 30 free spins or R200 free chip
Games: 1,000+
Win rate: 98%
Payout speed: 1 business day
Pros and cons
Crypto payments accepted
Mobile app available
No phone support
Bonus offer
Wagering requirements 40x Valid for 30 days Payment options
Top 5 online casinos for live blackjack games
| 🂡 Best for live blackjack | |
| 🏆 Best overall live casino | |
| ♦️ Best for live roulette | |
| 🎲 Best for live baccarat | |
| ♣️ Best for live poker |
How does live blackjack work?
Live blackjack games allow players in SA to enjoy all the excitement of playing on a Vegas casino floor without leaving their homes. In live blackjack, you play opposite a human dealer sat at a physical table within a studio, made possible via a webcam streamed directly onto your desktop or mobile device.
You can use the live chat function to place bets and chat with the dealer. Other than that, live blackjack plays the same as standard online blackjack.
Why play live blackjack?
Live blackjack offers players a more authentic casino experience. Virtual blackjack mimics the real thing by utilising random number generators (RNG), while live blackjack is just like playing at a land-based casino, with a real human dealer managing gameplay. The only difference is you get to play from the comfort of your favourite chair or sofa, or in bed!
Many online players rate the social aspect of live casino games, as you can interact with the dealer and other players. Another advantage is that you don’t have to worry about games being rigged as cards are dealt in front of you in live blackjack.
Rules of live blackjack
The objective of live dealer blackjack is to end up with a hand totalling as close to 21 as possible without going over. The best hand, known as ‘blackjack’, is when the first two cards dealt value exactly 21.
Numbered cards (2-10) are worth their face value, picture cards (J, Q, K) are worth 10 each, while aces are worth one or 11. Live games tend to use eight standard 52-card decks.
The game begins with each player receiving two cards. This includes the dealer, but only one of the dealer’s cards (the upcard) is shown.
Each round has one of three outcomes: player wins, dealer wins, or a push. In the event of a push, your bet value is returned to you.
Live blackjack odds & payouts
The payout for a winning hand in live blackjack depends on the game's variation and rules. The common payout ratio is a 1:1. But if you land a natural blackjack, where your two cards are a 10 and an ace, you’ll get a 3:2 payout (the less favourable 6:5 is becoming more widespread in some game variants).
However, understanding the odds of what might happen during each round, depending on the information you have available, will help you make better decisions and increase your chances of getting a payout.
Blackjack strategy charts (widely available online) lay out the basic strategy behind the game. Using a chart will tell you whether to stand, hit, split or double down given any combination of your starting hand and the dealer’s upcard.
Getting to grips with blackjack odds and payouts is essential if you’re serious about improving your game and winning chances.
How to play live blackjack online
You’ll need to set up an account to play live blackjack if you don’t already have one. Check out our expert casino reviews to find the best live blackjack online casinos in SA. To create an account, you’ll need to submit some details, including your name, date of birth, email, home address, etc. You’ll also need to provide documentation to verify your identity.
Once set up, follow these simple steps to play live dealer blackjack online:
Log into your account and deposit real money.
Choose and load a game from the live casino lobby. Grab a seat and wait for the next round to begin.
The dealer will deal two cards to you and two for themselves, one hidden.
Select an action based on your hand value. Possible moves include:
Hit – to request another card.
Stand – to keep your two cards.
Split – to split a pair into two hands.
Double – to double your bet and take another card.
Once all players have made their moves, it is the dealer’s turn to reveal their face-down card, so you can see who has won the game.
Types of live blackjack games
Here are some of the most popular live blackjack variants available to play at SA online casinos:
Also known as American blackjack, this staple variant follows the standard blackjack rules. Most online casinos will offer at least one classic variation.
In European blackjack, the dealer is dealt one face-up card initially, with the second being revealed once players have made their decisions.
Perfect pairs follows standard blackjack rules but introduces a side bet, where players can bet on the likelihood of their first two cards having matching values.
Blackjack Party features seven seats at the table, but players waiting to join can still partake in the fun by betting behind the best players.
Top 5 tips for how to win live blackjack
Here are a few things to consider before playing live blackjack to maximise your winning chances:
Learn the rules!
Before wagering any real money, always read and understand the game rules and payouts.
Find a low house edge.
The house edge percentage tells you how much of your bet the casino will keep as profit. It stands to reason that the lower that number, the better for your pocket.
Split 8s and aces.
Blackjack is a numbers game, and there is a commonly known blackjack strategy using statistical odds. Look online for a blackjack strategy chart.
Never go chasing wins.
A common mistake made among live casino players is to keep chasing wins when you’ve hit a decent payout. Our motto is if you hit big, cash out.
Gamble responsibly.
Live dealer blackjack still has an element of chance, and you can’t always predict an outcome. Never bet beyond your means and seek help if you need it.
Live blackjack vs. traditional online blackjack
To determine whether you’re better suited to live blackjack or standard online blackjack, we’ve put together the main pros and cons of playing each version below:
| Live blackjack | Traditional online blackjack |
|---|---|
| ✅ Enjoy a real-life casino experience from the comfort of your home | ✅ Can play free versions of online blackjack |
| ✅ Interact with other players and your dealer for a more social gaming experience | ✅ You can control the speed of the game |
| ✅ Can practise blackjack strategies and card counting | ✅ Greater variety of standard blackjack games on offer |
| ❌ Can’t play live games for free | ❌ You can’t communicate with the dealer or other players in traditional online blackjack |
| ❌ Games typically have short betting windows | ❌ Gameplay can be more repetitive and less thrilling |
Live blackjack casino bonuses
You can find a vast selection of casino bonuses to use on live blackjack casinos, including sign-up bonuses for new players and ongoing promotions and loyalty programmes for existing players.
Some of the most popular are no deposit bonuses that allow you to try before you buy, and deposit match bonuses that reward you more the more you spend. Read our helpful casino bonuses guide for more information and where to find the best bonuses available today. You can also find some of the best welcome bonuses available at our top recommended casinos below:
Popular live blackjack software providers
Live casino games are becoming increasingly popular online, which is why more and more software developers are producing these games to keep up with the burgeoning demand.
Evolution Gaming
Evolution is widely considered the leading provider of live dealer online casino games, offering award-winning titles across blackjack, poker, roulette and more.
Playtech
Playtech is another giant in the live casino space, with an impressive studio delivering consistently high-quality, immersive live dealer experiences.
Pragmatic Play
No list of live casino producers would be complete without mentioning Pragmatic Play, which has become known for its razor-sharp stream resolutions, professional dealers, and thrilling gameplay features.
Live blackjack on mobile
Thanks to HTML5 technology, you can play live casino games on the move. Simply visit your chosen mobile casino via your device’s browser and enjoy the selection of games on offer.
Alternatively, many top SA online casinos offer downloadable mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. Casino apps have many benefits, including push notifications, enhanced connectivity, and personalised gameplay.
Play 20,000+ casino games
Browse other live casino guides
If you love the live dealer casino space, check out our reviews of other top live casino games available at online casinos across South Africa:
Live blackjack FAQs
You can play live blackjack at many of the top online casinos in South Africa, like those listed on this page.
Yes, live blackjack is legit. Just ensure you only play at reputable and secure sites, and you can rest assured that online live blackjack is not rigged.
You can play live blackjack for real money at various online casinos. Check out our list of the best real money casinos for live casino games and more.
No, you can’t play live blackjack for free unfortunately. The overheads of real studios, dealers and technology mean providers cannot offer free demos.
Nobody can tell you if live blackjack is better than online blackjack, as it is all down to individual preferences. Our experts love the immersive gameplay of live dealer blackjack.
Yes, it is possible to count cards when playing live blackjack, but it’s not easy. This is due to a few factors, the most obvious being that live blackjack is played with multiple decks of cards (typically eight), which are reshuffled after each round.
Live dealer blackjack games also employ other techniques to help identify players who are trying to count cards. For instance, the software monitoring the game keeps a count of the shoe as well as the betting patterns of each player.
Win at live blackjack online by getting closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust.
