Live Poker Games: Where to Play in South Africa [2024]

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Author Ernest Masuka

Approved by Rumen Morfov

Updated:

4 Jun 2024

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Instead of playing RNG poker with digital cards, you can play live poker and watch a live host shuffle and deal cards in real-time. Numerous SA casinos present a range of fascinating poker variations streamed live in high definition and crisp visuals. Below are the best ones.

Ernest Musaka, Reviewer & Game Tester

While the amounts may vary from site to site, online live poker games typically have higher minimum and maximum stake limits than regular online poker.

Where to Play Poker Offline in S.A – Best Poker Rooms

The convenience of playing online poker from the comfort of your home is unmatched. But sometimes, you want to take a break from your computer and rub shoulders with fellow gamers. The next time you feel like tipping the dealer, here are some popular locations to check out.

Emerald Resort and Casino rose to prominence after becoming the first poker room to host the World Series of Poker event in 2012. Poker gaming takes place on 6 tables all year round, and players can participate in weekly tournaments with R12,000 prize pools. Address: 777 Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, 1900, South Africa.

Emperor’s Palace also made history when it hosted the first WPT event in South Africa in 2012. The poker room is located close to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and offers 8 Texas Holdém tables with flexible stakes to suit all player pockets. Address: 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park 1627, South Africa.

Montecasino is the preferred venue by many SA poker enthusiasts owing to regular tournaments with varying buy-ins. Cash tables are also available with flexible limits to cater to different budgets. Address: 1 Monte Casino Boulevard, Johannesburg, SA.

Gold Reef City is a buzzing entertainment location attached to a theme park with 3 Raise’em poker tables. It’s open 24/7 and runs a bi-monthly tournament with buy-ins for R6,000. Address: Cnr Northern Park and Data Crescent, Ormonde, Johannesburg.

Carnival City is a premium poker destination hosting Texas Hold’em and Raise’em tables. It also features a progressive table with a base value starting from R10,000. Address: Corner Century Rd and Elsburg Rd. Boksburg. South Africa.

What is Live Poker?

Unlike traditional poker, where players pit against each other, live poker pits players against the dealer. The goal is to beat the dealer by forming the best 5-hand combination possible. As with all live games South Africa titles, it happens in an online casino in front of a live dealer.

Payouts are based on the cards in your hands, but the game sticks to the traditional hierarchy of poker hands.

How to Play Poker with Live Dealers?

To play live poker with a dealer, one would need to sign up with a South African poker site first. Your next step is to join a table, and the game plays out as follows:

What are the Most Common Live Poker Variations?

Live poker is available in different types, with slight rule variations that alter the complexity and strategy of each game. Below are the most popular types.

Ernest Musaka, Reviewer & Game Tester

Understand your skill level when picking games, as some variants are more mathematical and others simpler.

Texas Hold’em

Texas Holdém is easily the most popular live poker variant in SA and is offered by any online poker site worth its salt. The game starts with each player receiving two cards, with five community cards laid on the table. Players use the combination of their two cards and community cards to put together a winning five-card combination.

Three Card Poker

Three-card poker has gained popularity because it’s fun and easy to learn. Instead of making the best poker hand with five cards, you use only three in this live-streamed game. The rules are similar to those of Texas Hold’em, but players only make Ante and Play wagers.

Teen Patti

Also known as Three Cards or Flush, Teen Patti may have originated in India, but the highly engaging variant has captured the hearts of many SA players. The game is played by three to six players, each taking turns to show their cards and comparing when the last player reveals their hand.

Caribbean Stud Poker

It’s impossible to list popular live poker games and leave out Caribbean Stud Poker, a thrilling game derived from Five Card Stud Poker. It’s one of the easiest versions to play. Unlike most variants, players wager exclusively against the house and not each other. A player is dealt with 5 cards face down, and the dealer also gets 5 cards, but with one facing up. Players only need to beat the dealer’s hand—no one else.

Andar Bahar

Andar Bahar is another variation of poker that originated in India. The main objective of this game is to predict the box to win between the Andar and the Bahar. The live dealer starts by shuffling the deck and revealing the first card or the joker. Players place their bets and guess which set of boxes the joker lands in.

Software Providers Powering Poker Games in South Africa

South African players have several software providers to thank for continuously delivering high-quality live poker online. You can easily spot an ace game developer by the available variations, streaming quality, user interface, mobile compatibility, and more.

They’re known for using cutting-edge software with various game-enhancing features that can’t be found in traditional poker games. These include aesthetic game design, chat functions, and optimization for various platforms. Top studios that have mastered live dealer games include:

Our Tips

As we near the end of our guide, we want to arm you with a few simple tips and tricks every live casino poker player must know for a valuable experience:

• Play fewer hands and aggressively: Playing every hand will result in you prematurely bleeding your chips. Rather, play a tight range of strong hands by including speculative ones like 5 of hearts and 6 of spades.
• Start with a single table: Learn to win consistently at one table before diving into complex multi-tabling.
• Start with low stakes: Starting with lower stakes is advisable to ease yourself into the game, explore the gameplay, and manage your bankroll effectively.

What Are the Winning Strategies to Try?

Poker is a game of strategy, even though luck also plays a huge role. Adopt the following tips the next time you join a poker table online.

Strategy #1: Master the art of bluffing

Winning isn’t a given in live poker, but we can guarantee you won’t always be dealt the best hands. Because your opponents don’t know what your hand looks like, they may fold, even if they have better hands. As such, you can cautiously call or raise, even when you don’t have strong cards.

Ernest Musaka, Reviewer & Game Tester

There’s such a thing as bluffing too much. Try not to play your marginal hands a lot, as you might wind up bleeding chips.

Strategy #2: Fold when unsure

Most seasoned players may not want to hear this, but folding when you’re unsure how to proceed isn’t necessarily a bad idea. In fact, calling too often is the fastest way to lose at poker. While this sounds simple enough in theory, it’s a lot harder to adopt in practice because of how our brains are wired.

Ernest Musaka, Reviewer & Game Tester

When you fold, be sure to note down the details of the hand so you can later ascertain if you made the right call. I found that studying these hands consistently will improve your skills.

Pros & Cons

List of More Live Games to Try Next

When you want to take a break from free live poker but still looking to enjoy equally engaging live games, try the following:

Bottom Line: Live Poker South Africa Review

If you’d like to play Three-card, Five-card, or any other variant online, you have a wide range of SA poker sites to sign up with. Each game is exciting in its own way, with varied betting options and qualifying dealer hands.

You can use a few expert tips and strategies to help your game. Playing live poker online free is rare because games are streamed in real time. However, you’re more than welcome to try out RNG titles in demo mode and place real money stakes when you’re good and ready.

Ernest Musaka, Reviewer & Game Tester

I noticed that online poker with live dealers requires a much higher skill level than playing at a physical casino. You can’t read body cues online and have to rely on betting habits.

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