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Online Poker in South Africa

Online Poker in South Africa
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Max Streltcoff Editor-In-Chief
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: May 12, 2025 · 6 minutes to read

Best Poker Sites in South Africa for 2025

The popularity of poker, both around the world and in South Africa, has increased significantly. With the advent of betting sites, the game has become available not only to professional players with many years of experience, but also to ordinary fans of the game.
Online poker sites South Africa offer users the opportunity to not only try their luck in the game, but also hone their skills, test new strategies and meet like-minded people. In this article, we will cover all information that would be of help in your search for the best online poker sites South Africa.

At the moment, the regulation of online poker in South Africa is weak. Users who play on licensed international platforms can be assured of a legal betting process. In addition, the Remote Gambling Bill (B11-2024), which will fill a gap in the South African gambling industry, is expected to be passed soon.
Note, however, that in order to protect yourself and your data, you must choose sites with a valid gambling licence, such as the Curaçao Gaming Licence or Man Gambling Supervision Commission. These licenses give users confidence that they are playing on an official site, the results of poker games are fair, all transactions are protected and their payment and personal data are safe.

Trusted Poker Rooms for African Players

For both new users and experienced players in South Africa, it is extremely important to choose a reliable online poker room to ensure that the gaming experience is as fun and as hassle-free as possible. After reviewing dozens of available options, we’ve come to a conclusion that the following sites can claim the title of the most trustworthy ones:

GGPoker

GGPoker is the best poker site regulated by the Man Gambling Supervision Commission. Within the platform, users have access to a wide selection of poker games, such as Omaha or Texas Hold’em.

GGPoker welcomes new users with a $100 welcome poker bonus in the form of free tickets and cash Play Dollars (C$) or a matched deposit bonus of up to $600. To take advantage of this bonus, users need to make a deposit of $20 or more and choose one of two bonus options.

Players on the GGPoker website have access to rooms with different buy-in levels, the size of which starts from $0.25 and can reach up to $250 in regular rooms. This approach ensures that every player can participate according to their budget.

Unibet Poker

Unibet Poker is another reliable poker site for South African players. The website is incorporated and licensed in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.

For new users, Unibet Poker offers a 100% welcome bonus from $10 to $200. There is also a loyalty program for regular players. Once you reach level 2, you will start earning bonus points that can be used to purchase bonuses and play through tickets. The loyalty system of this online poker site consists of 34 steps, divided into 7 levels. Upon reaching level 4, you will be able to receive bonuses every two weeks, increasing your cashback to 35%.

Players on the Unibet Poker website can access cash games at any time convenient for them. For example, to play Texas Hold’em or Omaha, users need to buy-in from $2, the bets in such games are $0.02/$0.04. In VIP rooms, the buy-in size starts from $100. This approach ensures that games are accessible to all types of players.

There are several popular types of poker games. Among them, the most beloved are Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud Poker and Classic Poker. Depending on preferences, the player can choose between tournaments and cash games.

Online Poker Tournaments

South African poker sites often host tournaments with varying buy-ins and winnings. Users can choose the most suitable tournament according to their skill level and according to their budget. Tournaments are suitable for poker players who want excitement and potentially high winnings.

For example, GGPoker offers a live-streaming section with the most exciting tournaments. Additionally, users can independently take part in tournaments, such as:

  • Zodiac MILLION$, ¥1M GTD;
  • Global MILLION$, $1M GTD;
  • Omaholic Bounty Quarter MILLION$, $250K GTD;
  • GGMillion$ High Rollers $10 300, $1M GTD.

In turn, Unibet Poker offers Sit & Go tournaments for beginners; they do not require large participation costs and last less than an hour. In addition, users can apply to participate in live poker tournaments, No Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha tournaments with 6 or 9 players per poker table and in a variety of formats.

Cash Games on Poker Sites

Unlike tournaments, in cash games the chips are real money, each with its own denomination. At any point in the game, the player can buy additional chips, which makes the game more stable.

In cash games, players have more freedom. They can choose their own poker room and playing time, regardless of their schedule. Having filled their hand, the player can choose a game with higher stakes.

Also, the earning potential in this format is much higher, since the games are ongoing and users can independently choose when to play.
At Unibet Poker, users can play online No Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, as well as an exciting variant of Banzai Texas Hold’em with varying stakes. You can sit at tables with 50-100 big blinds, and if your stack falls below 100 big blinds, you can top it up during the game.

Free Poker vs Real Money Poker

Free and real money poker have a strategically different approach. Free poker is perfect for beginners who want to understand game combinations, develop tactics, or just get some poker experience and emotions.
In real money poker games, players get a completely different experience. In this case, it is necessary to correctly calculate each step and consciously take risks, since potential profit or loss of money is at stake.

Tips for Real Money Poker Players

If you think you’re ready to play poker for real money, here are some tips that can improve your gaming experience:

  • Develop your strategies and steps during unexpected situations. You will have to beat other, equally motivated players, so study the rules of the chosen game in detail and delve into the existing tips and strategies of more experienced players.
  • Manage your bankroll. Don’t run after losses, it’s better to pause and reconsider your strategy in order to be able to increase your capital in the future.
  • Learn to read the game of other players. Bluffing is a very common approach, so it is very important to be able to recognize it, as this will increase your chances of winning.
  • Learn to work with positions. Depending on your position, you should build your future strategy. If you are in early positions, then this makes the game more difficult, since you cannot analyse the actions of other participants. If you are in a late position, in this case you can raise in order to eliminate weak bets or play more aggressively if players have checked before you.

Mobile Poker Apps in South Africa

The most popular and safe poker sites South Africa, in addition to the site, offer users multifunctional mobile poker applications. Unibet Poker and GGPoker are available to download directly from the official website for both Android and iOS devices, making it easy to access your favourite games no matter where you are.

Banking Options for African Poker Players

Poker sites for South African players offer users a variety of deposit and withdrawal methods. These include Skrill, EcoPayz and Neteller e-wallets, Visa and Mastercard bank cards, Bitcoin and Tether cryptocurrencies, as well as local options like Capitec Bank.

It is worth carefully studying the instructions on the site; depending on the site and payment method you choose, the limits, commission, and payment processing time may vary.

FAQs

Is it legal to play online poker from South Africa?

Users can play online poker in South Africa on licensed and regulated sites.

What is the best site to play online poker from Africa?

The most popular and best sites to play online poker in Africa are Unibet Poker and GGPoker.

Do I need a VPN to play online poker in South Africa?

No, a VPN cannot be used to play poker online.

Why play poker online from South Africa?

Poker is an exciting game that requires players to think strategically and react in stressful situations. Thanks to the best online poker sites, the game has become a great hobby for many African users, as well as a source of additional income.

What’s online poker’s popularity in South Africa?

Online poker is very popular in South Africa and its popularity is only growing. The most popular game among users is Texas Hold’em, but other types of games are also available.

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