Best Online Casinos with Poker Variants
Poker is one of the most enjoyable online casino games, but when so many online casino sites offer it, it’s hard to tell which site is the best for you. So, our team of experts are here to help; they have compiled a list of the top 10 online casinos that offer poker games, with Yebo Casino kicking off the list.
In this article, you can find all the information you need to know about poker and the best online poker sites, including how to play available variants and details on how we decide the top 10 poker sites.
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Top 10 Online Casinos in South Africa Offering Poker Games Reviewed
1. Yebo Casino
Our expert top-rated online casino site in South Africa, Yebo Casino, offers a superb range of poker games. Established in 2014, Yebo Casino has a decade of experience within the online casino industry, which is indeed demonstrated by its excellent site features and incredible functionality. Mobile gaming has become extremely popular over recent years, so it is no surprise that Yebo Casino flaunts a fully optimised mobile site suited to iOS and Android devices. There is currently no mobile app available. However, players will find all they need on the site, accessible through a mobile browser.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Top-notch 24/7 customer support | Responsible gambling tools are limited |
| Bitcoin payment method is accepted | |
| Speedy payouts |
2. Springbok Casino
Springbok Casino welcomes new customers with a generous new customer offer, which can be claimed by simply creating an account with the site. In addition to the signup offer, players can claim free spins, reload bonuses, and VIP rewards. Being a leading ZA poker site, Springbok Casino has received valid licensing and certification from the reliable Curacao e-Gaming Regulatory Authority, proving it has met all valid site requirements. To ensure the utmost player safety, Springbok also flaunts SSL encryption technology to protect players’ financial and personal data. However, it is not available to US players.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Loyalty points can be collected daily | US players are restricted |
| Fully optimised mobile platforms | |
| Leading developers power games |
3. Europa Casino
Europa Casino is a popular online casino brand worldwide, specifically hitting it off in South Africa. Customers were thoroughly impressed with the superb game selection of over 1500+ titles, including player favourites like slots, table games and live casino titles from leading providers. Though, we would like to see more poker varieties. Our experts particularly favoured the live casino selection for its immersive aspect, allowing players to compete against each other and interact with live dealers. Another fantastic feature of the Europa Casino site is the superb customer support service, which includes several contact methods, such as telephone, email, and live chat.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Super mobile compatibility | There could be more poker varieties |
| Generous welcome bonus | |
| Easy-to-navigate interface |
4. Casino Tropez
Our experts highly recommend that online casino enthusiasts in South Africa create an account with the fantastic Casino Tropez site to enjoy a jam-packed online casino experience. With over two decades of experience in the online casino industry, Casino Tropez certainly understands how to impress its lucky players. A notable feature of the site is undoubtedly the quick withdrawals, allowing players to access their winnings in no time. The supported banking options at Casino Tropez include Visa, MasterCard, Skrill and ecoPayz. We would like to see the customer support hours extended, but the available methods are top-notch.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Over 900+ casino games to choose from | Customer support hours are limited |
| Games powered by Playtech | |
| Generous welcome package |
5. 10bet Casino
Are you looking for a leading online casino site that flaunts a fantastic range of leading poker varieties? If so, 10bet Casino is the site for you. Established in 2003, 10bet Casino has over two decades of online casino experience, which is undoubtedly reflected through its incredible features. As soon as players enter the 10bet Casino site, they are greeted with an easy-to-navigate interface, including promotions, an extensive games library, and a plethora of reliable banking options, including Visa, Skrill, Neteller and Paysafecard. Please note, however, that there are various country restrictions.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Good variety of casino games | Several restricted countries |
| Superb 128-bit encryption technology | |
| Site fairness certified by TST |
6. ZAR Casino
Established back in 2006, ZAR Casino is a well-established brand that has built itself an excellent reputation within the online South African casino scene. Owned by the reliable GTG, ZAR Casino flaunts several incredible site features, including a superb games library (though it could be bigger), excellent mobile compatibility and great software. Our experts were thoroughly impressed with the generous customer bonuses for new and existing players at ZAR Casino. New customers can relish in a lucrative welcome bonus when they join the site, and existing customers can relish in free spins and bonus cash. Create an account with ZAR Casino today to claim lucrative bonuses!
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Popular amongst ZA players | The game library could be bigger |
| Several game varieties to choose from | |
| Generous customer promotions |
7. SilverSands Casino
In addition to its incredible casino game options, SilverSands Casino provides a plethora of superb site features which are sure to make players stick around. As soon as players enter the site, they are greeted with a huge welcome bonus, proving to be an excellent way to kick-start your online casino experience! Another excellent feature of the brand is the convenient and high-quality casino payment options, allowing for seamless and secure deposits and withdrawals. While our experts would have liked to see a larger slot selection within the sites game library, the variety of games is satisfactory, ensuring players will find a title suited to them.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| 24/7 customer support is available | Only one developer provides all games |
| Frequent casino promotions | |
| Large welcome offer |
8. Yeti Casino
Despite being a relatively new online casino in South Africa, Yeti Casino has built a superb reputation for itself, becoming several players’ go-to gaming destination. On first impression, our players were impressed with the simple site design with clear categories. Thanks to top-notch software from developers like Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming and Amatic Industries, players can expect seamless functionality, high quality graphics and a leading game selection. Though there are limited table games available, other game varieties include slots, blackjack, live games and poker.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Instant play for desktop and mobile | Table games are limited |
| Secure banking options | |
| Great safety features |
9. Punt Casino
Are you looking for a leading ZA online casino site that offers several variations of poker alongside a plethora of superb customer features? If so, Punt Casino is certainly the destination for you. Established in 2021, Punt Casino is a fresh site with a vibrant and attractive theme with great functionality. Customer safety and security are the priority at Punt Casino, and with valid licensing and certification from the Government of Curacao, players are in safe hands. The games library at Punt Casino is also extremely impressive, offering over 200+ titles. There is currently no live casino section at Punt Casino, but players will certainly be satisfied with the available titles.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Cryptocurrency payment methods are accepted | No live chat for users who are not registered |
| Mobile friendly | |
| Extremely secure site |
10. African Grand
South African casino enthusiasts searching for a new site bursting with incredible features and offerings should check out African Grand Casino. Our experts were extremely impressed as soon as they entered the interface, greeted by a sleek and modern site design which was extremely simple to navigate. Furthermore, players can enjoy enticing rewards through the lucrative African Grand promotions, including welcome offers and cashback bonuses. We would have liked to see a broader range of casino payment methods to complete deposits and withdrawals; however, the current banking option selection is satisfactory.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Wide range of lucrative bonuses | Payment options are limited |
| 24/7 live chat is available | |
| Free play games available |
How We Rank the Top Poker Casino Sites in South Africa
Each online casino is different, so how do we determine the best ones for poker? Our team of experts use the following set of criteria to help their decision-making process; keep reading to learn more.
Range of Poker Variants
There are many different ways to play poker, each with slightly different rules and techniques, to enhance a bettor’s gameplay. As such, we expect the top 10 online poker sites to offer a range of these variants. These games should come from the top software providers to ensure users receive the best possible experience. Games we expect to find include five-card draw, 7-card stud, Texas Hold ’em, and hi-lo variants; you can find more details on these games and other options later in this guide.
Live Poker Titles
Another great way to play poker is through live dealer games. These games allow users to play in real-time against an actual dealer and other players, giving bettors the feel of a brick-and-mortar casino from the comfort of their own homes. We expect the top 10 online casinos that offer poker to provide a variety of live dealer games from top providers.
Free Play Poker Games
As we’ve mentioned, we expect various poker games to be available. This includes various free-play games that allow new players to get to know the site and the game without spending any of their own money. It would also be great if these sites offered multiple other free-play games, such as slots and bingo.
Betting Options and Limits
Players who sign up for any kind of top online casino site expect to find a range of payment options, so we kept this in mind when deciding on the top 10 poker casinos in South Africa. Users who sign up to any of the sites on our list can find a range of e-wallets, prepaid cards, debit cards, and mobile payment options. Some of the sites on our list even offer cryptocurrencies.
In addition to the various payment methods, we also expect these poker casinos to have reasonable betting limits, meaning that the deposit and withdrawal limits have low minimums and high maximums.
Mobile Compatibility
The top poker casinos should be compatible with mobile devices, whether that is via an app or mobile internet browsers. The site should be well-adapted and offer all the same services and features as those found on the desktop version of the site. Users should be able to access the site or app on iOS and Android devices.
Library of Alternative Games
We expect the top 10 casino sites offering poker to offer a great selection of poker games as well as a range of other titles, including blackjack, roulette, slots, bingo, other tables, and more. These games should come from top software providers such as Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, Playtech, IGT, Big Time Gaming, and more. If you are looking for something completely different to blackjack, check out online slot casinos.
Promos and Bonuses Available
The top 10 online poker casinos should also offer a range of promotions and bonuses which should be available to both new and existing customers. Some of the offers we expect to find are as follows: no deposit bonuses, matched deposit offers, free spins, cashback bonuses, reload promos, referral bonuses, and VIP/ Loyalty reward programs. These promotions should all have fair and easy-to-follow terms and conditions, preferably with low wagering requirements.
Step By Step Guide on How To Play Classic Poker
If you are interested in playing classic poker, also known as Texas Hold’em, but are new to the game, you can follow these simple steps to learn how to play in no time.
- Learn the 5-card hand rankings (more information on this can be found later on).
- If you are left of the dealer, place a small blind (this can be half the minimum bet); if you are two places left of the dealer, you must place the big blind—alternatively, this bettor can “ante-up” the minimum starting bet.
- Get to know the cards in your possession, which will be dealt with once the blinds are placed.
- When it is your turn to bet, you can do any of the following. Note that betting happens after each card the dealer places.
- Place an initial bet (if no one else has).
- Say check (this avoids betting).
- Raise to add more money to the betting pool.
- Call to match a previous bet.
- Or fold if you do not wish to bet on your hand- this will forfeit your cards.
- Examine the flop to see if you have a good hand – the three community cards will make up your hand.
- Check the turn after the second round of bets. Then, check the river following the next round of betting.
- Reveal your cards in the final showdown. This should be done clockwise, starting with the dealer.
Poker Hands Rankings:
| Poker Hand🃏: | Consists Of: |
| Royal Flush: e.g. A♥️, K♥️, Q♥️, J♥️, 10♥️ | A, K, Q, J & 10 in the same suit. |
| Straight Flush: e.g 6♠️, 7♠️, 8♠️, 9♠️, 10♠️ | 5 cards in a sequence, same suit. |
| Four Of A Kind: e.g. 6♥️, 6♠️, 10♦️, 6♣️, A♦️ | 4 cards of equal value & 2 random cards. |
| Full House: e.g. A♣️, A♦️, A♠️, K♥️, K♠️ | 3 cards of equal value + 2 cards of equal value |
| Flush: e.g. A♦️, 9♦️, Q♦️, 3♦️, 7♦️ | 5 cards of the same suit. |
| Straight: e.g. 5♦️, 4♥️, 3♣️, 2♦️, A♣️ | 5 cards in consecutive value but not in the same suit. |
| Three Of A Kind: e.g. A♣️, A♦️, A♠️, J♥️, K♠️ | 3 cards of equal value + 2 unmatched cards. |
| Two Pair: e.g. A♦️, A♣️, Q♥️, Q♦️, K♠️ | 2 cards of equal value + another two cards of equal value + 1 random card. |
| One Pair: e.g. A♦️, A♣️, K♠️, Q♥️, J♥️ | 2 cards of equal value + 3 unmatched cards. |
| High Card: e.g. A♣️, K♥️, J♣️, 10♦️, 5♠️ | 5 random cards – the player with the highest card wins. |
Poker Variants on Offer at Top ZA Casino Sites
There are many poker variants available online, all with slightly different rules and ways to play; for more information on these games, read below.
- Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular poker variants. In this version, two hole cards are dealt face down to each player. Then, five community cards are placed in stages: first, the flop, where three cards are placed; next, the turn, where an additional card is placed; and then the river, where the final card is drawn.
- Five-Card Draw
This is a fundamental poker variant and is easy to understand. The objective of this game is to create the best possible 5-card hand after one draw. The winner is the player with the best hand after the second round of betting.
- Omaha Hi-Lo
In Omaha Hi/Lo, users combine two of their four-hole cards, dealt at the start of the game, with three of the 5 community cards to create the best possible 5-card hand. In low poker, the best hand would be High Card and in high poker the best hand would be the Royal Flush.
- Seven-Card Stud
In this poker variant, instead of community cards, users are dealt 7 cards, which should be used to create the best 5-card hand they can. There are three rounds. In the first, two downcards and one up card are dealt. Then, three upcards are dealt, followed by a final downcard. Betting takes place after each round.
- Razz
This game is played very similarly to seven-card stud, but instead of aiming to get the highest possible hand in the ranking, players aim to create the lowest hand possible using five of the seven cards they are dealt.
- HORSE
HORSE is a unique poker variant that combines five poker games that rotate each round. The combined games are Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, and Eight or Better (Stud Hi-Lo).
- Caribbean Stud
Caribbean stud is played the same as the classic poker variants; the only difference is that the bettor plays against the dealer rather than other players.
An alternative table game for players to give a try is roulette, click here to read our review on the top 10 online casinos offering roulette titles.
Top 5 Tips for Playing Poker at Online Casinos ZA
Looking to improve your gameplay? If yes, use the following tips, and you’ll be a master at poker in no time.
- Get to know the hand ranking — This is the most important tip we can give. You must ensure that you understand the hands properly to avoid making mistakes that could cost you the game.
- Manage your bankroll — It is vital that you keep an eye on your betting amount. Don’t get carried away; ensure that you always know how much you have bet and step away if you need to.
- Try all variants — Give all the different types of poker a try; you never know which variant you will like the best, so give them all a go.
- Start with smaller bets — If you are new to poker, we always recommend starting with smaller bets while you get to know the game. It’s even better if you can find some free-play games.
- Don’t be scared to fold — As fun as betting is, it is important to know when to stop. It’s okay to play cautiously; you don’t always have to hold out for one card. Understand the odds and be realistic before deciding to play a bet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best hand in poker?
When playing classic hi poker, the best hand is the Royal Flush, which consists of A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit.
Can I play poker on mobile casinos?
Yes, many online poker games have been optimised for mobile casinos.
What is the best poker variant?
Most poker players, new and experienced, tend to prefer Texas Hold’em as it is easy to play and fun.