Blackjack
5 Best “South African” Online Blackjack Sites (March 2023)
Movies usually feature blackjack as the game of choice for the main protagonist, and that’s not coincidental. Blackjack is a popular card game, in large part because of the simple rules. Learning how to play blackjack is not complex – players beat the dealer when the total of the cards dealt is near or exactly 21.
Some South African bettors believe that all blackjack games are similar, yet, while the rules are typically the same, the way an online casino is structured influences the player’s experience. After legalizing gambling in South Africa over 26 years ago, multiple platforms started offering this card game, and our guide filters the best online blackjack sites.
How We Identify The Best South African Online Blackjack Sites
Choosing an online blackjack site may seem like an easy task, but rushing through the process can potentially rob you of lucrative promotions and immersive games. Investing the time when researching options will pay dividends in the long run, and South African players can benefit from our in-depth study of blackjack sites.
- Safety & Trustworthiness: Gambling is legal in South Africa, but the question is, are sites abiding by the rules? Reviews from players, the history of the online casino, and game developers associated with the platform all speak volumes about a gambling sites’ reputability.
- Legitimacy: When a player deposits hard-earned rands, some assurance is expected that the funds get entrusted to an online casino with oversight from government institutions, and licenses signal industry standards are respected.
- Finding diverse payment options: Having fun is one aspect, but the main point of gambling is to make a profit, and payment providers dictate deposit and payout options. The priority is to focus on a diverse cashier section that adapts to current trends.
- Blackjack Bonuses: Promotions are the key recruiting tool for betting sites, with blackjack players benefiting from sign-up bonuses and various reload and cryptocurrency promotions. This motivates bettors to stay at the table and play a few more hands.
Top 5 South African Blackjack Sites
The guiding principle in selecting an online casino is to know what games you want to play. For blackjack punters, there is no dilemma, and our research has narrowed the choice to the most appropriate platforms.
1. ZAR Casino
ZAR Casino is a fairly young platform that launched in 2019, and since its inception, it has been a holder of the Curacao license. The platform operates exclusively in South Africa, and as such, it is 100% Africa-themed, which becomes apparent as soon as you take the first glimpse of its website. This also means that you can play in South African Rand (ZAR).
The platform has partnered with multiple software developers — Rival, RTG, Genii, Saucify, and Nucleus Gaming. Together, these providers allow ZAR Casino to offer over 200 games.
However, apart from slots, the platform also offers roulette, video poker, keno, and most importantly multiple versions of authentic blackjack.
Read our ZAR Casino Review or visit ZAR Casino.
2. African Grand
African Grand is a popular online casino owned by Blue Digital LLC, that launched in 2018, it specializes in serving South African Players, and all players can play in South African Rand.. It is a regulated platform that holds a Curacao license, the casino features over 300 casino games including 100s of slot machines, as well as all of the popular table games including multiple versions of blackjack.
One area where African Grand excels is customer support. You can simply send an email, provided that it is not a pressing issue. If it is, however, you can use live chat, which is available 24/7, or better yet – you can simply call the service using a toll-free phone number.
Payouts are always processed quickly, and they offer a package of great casino games that are powered by Real Time Gaming.
Read our African Grand Review or visit African Grand.
3. Yebo Casino
A tailored design counts as a plus in the online casino industry, and Yebo Casino was explicitly created for South Africans. The platform launched in 2014 and possesses a Curacao license while also allowing deposits made in South African Rands.
Once a new member activates the profile, a 200% Welcome Bonus with 50 Free Spins improves the account balance.
Online casinos typically offer table games as a sideshow, but the main reason Yebo ranks high on our list is the attractive selection of blackjack titles. The assortment of games includes European blackjack and Classic Blackjack, with a few variations such as Perfect Pairs, Face Up 21, Super 21, Suit’Em Up Blackjack, and Match Play. Players who prefer the mobile experience can play Suit’Em Blackjack on smartphones or tablets.
Read our Yebo Casino Review or visit Yebo Casino.
4. Punt Casino
It’s appropriate to say that Punt Casino is the new kid on the block, emerging in the interactive gaming scene in 2017, but it has all the correct papers to prove its legitimacy. The online casinos’ lobby of games is regularly tested for fair outcomes by Technical Systems Testing and Gaming Laboratories International. At the same time, the Curacao license offers another layer of confidence in the platform.
The promotion package is solid with a 150% Welcome Bonus plus a remarkable 500 Free Spins. Gifts don’t greet players only at the gate; options such as crypto and VIP bonuses await active bettors.
Not surprisingly, blackjack has a prominent spot in the table games section, with eight titles to test a player’s skill and luck. European Blackjack is the preferred choice for most South African players, although many have also taken an interest in Perfect Pairs.
Read our Punt Casino Review or visit Punt Casino.
5. Fun Casino
Though available for just over three years, Fun Casino has become the go-to casino for tens of thousands of South Africans.
Fun Casino has an international presence and provides slots, table games, and live casino services and of course top notch baccarat from leading developers, including Blueprint Gaming, NetEnt, Microgaming, Big Time Gaming, Amatic, and others. Concerning the choice of blackjack, it is unarguably one of the best sites on the list.
Read our Fun Casino Review or visit Fun Casino
Conclusion
Blackjack’s enduring global popularity is boosted by the enthusiasm of South African players who prefer to play the game online. Options are plentiful, and while most games get supplied by identical providers, how the platform supports them can make or break a bettor’s gambling adventure.
The sites we identify in our review offer the most comprehensive blackjack package that can provide numerous hours of entertainment for newbie punters and experienced South African players.
Can You Play Free Blackjack?
Yes, all of the casinos that we recommend offer the option to play blackjack for free. You can then practice playing until you are ready to play for real money.
What Are These Blackjack Terms: Hit, Stand, Split, Double?
Hit - After the player is dealt the two initial cards, the player has the option to hit (request an additional card). The player should keep asking to hit until they feel that they have a sufficiently strong hand to win (as close to 21 as possible, without going over 21).
Stand - When the player has cards that they feel are sufficiently strong to beat the dealer then they should “stand.” For example, a player may wish to stand on a hard 20 (two 10 cards such as a 10, jack, queen, or king). The dealer must keep playing until they either beat the player or go bust (going over 21).
Split - After the player is dealt the first two cards, and if those cards are of equal face value (for example, two queens), then the player has the option to split their hand into two separate hands with equal bets on each hand. The player must then continue to play both hands with regular blackjack rules.
Double - After the initial two cards are dealt, if a player feels that they have a strong hand (such as a king and an ace), then the player may choose to double their initial bet. To learn when to double read our guide on When to Double Down in Blackjack.
What Are the Best Starting Hands?
Blackjack - This is an ace and any 10 value card (10, jack, queen, or king). This is an automatic win for the player.
Hard 20 - This is any two 10 value cards (10, jack, queen, or king). It is unlikely that the player will receive an ace next, and the player should always stand. Splitting is also not recommended.
Soft 18 - This is a combination of an ace and a 7 card. This combination of cards offers the player different strategy options depending on what cards the dealer is dealt.
What Is Single-Deck Blackjack?
As the name implies this is blackjack that is played with only one deck of 52 cards. Many blackjack aficionados refuse to play any other type of blackjack as this blackjack variant offers slightly better odds, and it enables savvy players the option to count cards.
House edge:
0.15% compared to multi-deck blackjack games that have a house edge between 0.46% to 0.65%.
What Is Multi-Hand Blackjack?
This offers more excitement as players can play up to 5 simultaneous hands of blackjack, the number of hands offered varies based on the casino.
What Are the Differences Between American Blackjack & European Blackjack?
The key difference between American and European blackjack is the hole card.
In American blackjack the dealer receives one card face up and one card face down (the hole card). If the dealer happens to have an Ace as his or her visible card, they then immediately peek at their face down card (the hole card). If the dealer has blackjack with a hole card that is a 10 card (10, jack, queen, or king), then the dealer automatically wins.
In European blackjack the dealer receives only one card, the second card is dealt after all of the players have had the chance to play. In other words, European blackjack has no hole card.
What Is Atlantic City Blackjack?
The game is always played with 8 regular decks, this means anticipating the next card is more difficult. The other major difference is players have the option to play a "late surrender".
A late surrender enables a player to toss their hand after the dealer checks his hand for blackjack. This could be wanted if the player has a really bad hand. With a surrender the player loses half their bet.
In Atlantic City blackjack players can split twice, up to three hands. Aces however, can only be split once.
The dealer must stand on all 17 hands, including soft 17.
Blackjack pays 3 to 2, and and insurance pays 2 to 1.
House edge:
0.36%.
What Is Vegas Strip Blackjack?
As the name implies this is the most popular version of blackjack in Las Vegas.
4 to 8 standard decks of cards are used, and the dealer must stand on soft 17.
Similar to other types of American blackjack, the dealer receives two cards, one face-up. If the face-up card is an ace, then the dealer peaks at his down card (the hole card).
Players have the option to play a "late surrender".
A late surrender enables a player to toss their hand after the dealer checks his hand for blackjack. This could be wanted if the player has a really bad hand. With a surrender the player loses half their bet.
House edge:
0.35%.
What Is Double Exposure Blackjack?
This is a rare variation of blackjack that increases the odds in the players favor by enabling the player to see both of the dealers cards face up, versus just one card. In other words there is no hole card.
Another key difference is that the dealer has the option to hit or stand on soft 17.
House Edge:
0.67%
What Is Spanish 21?
This is a version of blackjack that is played with 6 to 8 Spanish decks.
The Spanish deck of cards has four suits and contains 40 or 48 cards, depending on the game.
The cards are numbered from 1 to 9. The four suits are copas (Cups), oros (Coins), bastos (Clubs), and espadas (Swords).
Due to the lack of 10 card it is more difficult for a player to hit blackjack.
House Edge:
0.4%
What Is an Insurance Bet?
This is an optional side bet that is offered to a player if the dealer’s up-card is an ace. If the player fears that there is a 10 card (10, jack, queen, or king) that would give the dealer a blackjack, than the player may opt for the insurance bet.
The insurance bet is half of the regular bet (meaning if the player bet $10, then the insurance bet would be $5).
If the dealer has a blackjack then the player is paid 2 to 1 on the insurance bet.
If both the player and the dealer hit blackjack, then the payout is 3 to 2.
An insurance bet is often called a "suckers bet" as the odds are in the houses favor.
House edge:
5.8% to 7.5% - The house edge varies based on the previous card history.
What Is Blackjack Surrender?
In American blackjack players are given the option to surrender at any time. This should only be done if the player believes they have an extremely bad hand. If the player chooses this than the bank return half of the initial bet. (For example, a $10 bet has $5 returned).
In some version of blackjack such as Atlantic City blackjack only a late surrender is enabled. In this case, a player can only surrender after the dealer has checked his hand for blackjack.
To learn more visit our in-depth guide on When to Surrender in Blackjack.
