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Best Casinos for Real Money Slots
When you decide to play real money slots online, the choice of casino makes all the difference. The truth is that not every site that calls itself a casino can be trusted with your money or your personal information. Like we mentioned before, some of them are not even licensed or regulated at all. This is why it is so important to stick with licensed casinos that are transparent, safe and regulated by a South African authority. Playing with a licensed online casino means that the site operates by following all the safety standards and other regulations pertaining to game fairness, payout promptness, responsible gambling, data protection/privacy, etc. So, you can deposit and withdraw funds and play games with peace of mind.
Playing at a licensed and reputed online casino also means that you will receive your winnings on time without any excuses or delays. A good real money casino has fast withdrawal processing times and supports trusted local banking options that work for all South Africans. Then there is the matter of game variety. The best casinos will stock hundreds of different slot machines, from classic three-reel fruit machines to modern video slots with bonus features and exciting special rounds. So, you will always find a slot to suit your mood, playing style and budget preferences, since there are thousands of slots from various top game providers for you to pick from.
Finally, mobile compatibility has become essential. South Africans now spend a significant amount of time gaming on their phones and tablets, so the right casino must offer a well-functioning mobile site or app that functions smoothly across all types of modern mobile devices.
Top 7 Slot Games to Play for Real Money
Picking the right slot is not the same for everyone because different players look for different things.
One of the first factors to look at is volatility. High volatility slots do not pay out as often but when they do, the wins can be pretty big. Low volatility slots are the opposite. They pay out smaller wins more regularly and this keeps your bankroll going for longer in most cases. So, it really comes down to your budget and your style of play. If you like the idea of having the patience and being okay with losses while waiting for a big payout, then you can go for high volatility. If you prefer consistent wins and the ability to play for longer without essentially spending more money, then low volatility is the better option for you.
The next factor is theme. Slots come in every theme you can think of and the theme really sets the mood of the game. It could be based on adventure, sport, animals or even mythology. Themes like ancient Egypt and Las Vegas are very popular with slot machines. Some players like to stick to a single theme that they enjoy the most and others like to try out an assorted mix of new themes as they go. At the end of the day, it is all about personal preference so just choose the theme that appeals most to you and feel free to try slots of different themes because if you never try, then you’ll never know.
Bonus features are also important. Free spins, wilds, multipliers and bonus rounds can change the way a slot game is experienced by the player and also significantly change how much money you may end up winning. Some slots keep it very simple and others pack plenty of features that make the game nail-biting. However, if you prefer simplicity, then too many bonus rounds could complicate things. You need to decide if you want an easy, no-brainer gaming experience or if you are okay with learning how the different special features and bonus rounds work, in exchange for possibly bigger wins.
Lastly, you should also look at the RTP which stands for Return to Player. This number tells you how much of the money wagered on the slot is paid back to players over time. Higher RTP slots are always a better pick, at least on paper. We’ve looked at all of these factors and picked seven amazing online slots for SA players.
1. Gates of Olympus
Gates of Olympus 1000 is a slot created by Pragmatic Play and it was released in 2021. The game has 6 reels and uses a pay-anywhere system instead of fixed paylines, unlike most conventional slots. The theme is based on Greek mythology and Zeus himself is the central figure and he is standing watching over the reels and the symbols includes gems, crowns, goblets and the like. In the backdrop, you can see the mighty Mount Olympus in the distant horizon.
When it comes to features, Gates of Olympus 1000 is all about multipliers and free spins. You can trigger a free spins round where multipliers can go up to huge numbers and the tumbling reels mechanic shall allow the symbols to drop away for new ones to fall in. The volatility is high, so wins don’t come very often, but when they do land, they can be big. The RTP sits around 96.5%, which is pretty reasonable and good for this type of slot. The game is fully mobile-friendly as well.
2. Sugar Rush 1000
Sugar Rush 1000 is another slot from Pragmatic Play and it was launched in 2022. The game has 7 reels and works on a cluster pays system and so wins happen through groups of similar icons instead of lines of them in specific ways (paylines). The whole slot is candy themed, with strikingly colored jelly beans, sweets and candies all over the screen. The visuals are very colorful and upbeat and not everyone may be a fan of it.
The features in Sugar Rush 1000 also are mostly premised around multipliers and free spins. Winning clusters shall leave behind multiplier spots and these can build up across the reels as you continue to land more wins. Free spins can also be triggered and with the right clusters the game can deliver very big payouts. The volatility is high, so you need patience, but the rewards can be significant when they come. The RTP is just under 96% and this is good. Like most pragmatic play games, this slot is also easy and good to play on mobile devices.
3. Fire Strike
Fire Strike is yet another Pragmatic Play slot and it was launched in the year 2019. It has 5 reels and 10 paylines and it has a pretty simple and classic slot machine look. The symbols are fiery versions of sevens, bars and gems, all set against a backdrop of flames and neon lights. The background music is high tempo and high energy and it gives you a proper arcade feeling when playing this game. If you are a fan of old school slots, then this game offers the best of both worlds – retro looks with modern conveniences.
The main feature or highlight feature of Fire Strike is its jackpot feature. If you land enough of these Fire Strike symbols on the reels, then it can trigger big wins and this shall also include a fixed jackpot at the very top. The volatility is medium to high and the RTP is around 96.5% and this can be categorised as high.
4. Grand Wheel
Grand Wheel is a slot from Red Tiger Gaming and it was launched in 2017. The game has 3 reels and just 1 payline and this makes it as classic as a slot can get. The whole design is built around a retro-style wheel with showy colors and a practical layout. The visuals are basic but glitzy and the sounds are taken straight out of a fruit machine. It is surely a game that takes you back to the basics and that old-school feel is exactly what makes it appealing to players who like traditional slots without any bells and whistles.
The big feature in Grand Wheel is the bonus wheel itself. When you trigger it, the wheel spins and can award multipliers or straight cash prizes that can be quite large. The feature is simple but it works well and can really have you at the edge of your seat when it pops up. The volatility is high, so you may go through pretty long spells without much luck but the wins can be certainly rewarding when they land. The RTP is around 96% and the game plays just fine on most modern mobile devices as well.
5. Aviator Game
Aviator is not exactly a slot machine but rather a crash game from Spribe that was released in 2019. This is not a normal slot because it does not have reels or paylines. Instead, the game is all about a small plane that takes off and climbs higher and higher and as the plane climbs, the multiplier also climbs with it as well. The visuals are pretty minimalistic but still fun and entertaining to look at, the backdrop is dark and the focus is mostly on the aircraft at all times. Aviator has become extremely popular in South Africa because it is easy to play, easy to understand and there is something about being able to cash out before the plane crashes that just seems to attract players from all over.
The main feature is the cash-out button. You place your bet before the round starts and then you choose when to cash out while the multiplier climbs. If you cash out early, you will only take a small win since the multiplier hasn’t climbed so high yet. If you wait longer, you can get bigger wins, but if the plane flies away, then you shall lose the round. It is a high volatility game with a lot of risk, but that is precisely what makes it exciting. The RTP is about 97% and this RTP is well higher than most slots offer.
6. Book of Ra
Book of Ra is a slot from Novomatic and it has came out in 2005. The game has 5 reels and 9 paylines and it is set in ancient Egypt with an explorer as the main symbol. The reels are filled with Egyptian-themed icons such as scarabs, pharaohs and of course the famous Book of Ra itself. The visuals are basic comparable to modern slots and the ancient Egypt theme, ironically, never seems to get old in the online slot scene.
The free spins bonus is the main feature in Book of Ra. Once you trigger these free spins, a special symbol is chosen and it grows and expands all over to cover reels and this can result in very big payouts if the reels line up in your favour. The volatility is high, so you may need patience before the free spins round arrives, but when it does the rewards can be impressive. The RTP is just under 96%, which is reasonable for a slot that has been around this long. Despite being pretty old, the game plays pretty awesomely well even on mobile devices.
7. Book of Dead
Book of Dead is a slot from Play’n GO and it was released in 2016. It comes with 5 reels and 10 paylines and just like Book of Ra, the theme is based on ancient Egypt as well. The main character here is Rich Wilde, an adventure lover who is seen on the reels standing by Egyptian gods and treasures. The visuals are really good, compared to Book of Ra. Over the years, this has become one of the most recognisable and well-known slot games across the online casino gaming scene.
The main bonus feature is the free spins round. When this feature starts, one symbol is selected to enlarge and cover the reels during the round and this can result in some very big wins indeed. The volatility is high, so players may have to wait longer for the feature to hit, but the payouts can be worth the patience. The RTP is about 96.2% and the game works just fine on most mobile devices too.
How to Play Online Slots
If you’re new to slots, then the good news is that slot machines are arguably the easiest to learn and play quickly. In fact, some slots can be played intuitively without really having to read and understand anything at all. However, if you’re someone who really likes to be in control and know exactly what is going on at all times, then it’s good to revise the basics of how to play slots before you make a deposit and start spinning away.
Slots are a lot of fun, as they are designed to be, but knowing the basics of how to play will go a long way and may even help you play better and win more. So, let’s take a look at some of these basics in a brief manner below.
Understand the Basics – Reels, Paylines and Symbols
Every slot has reels, paylines and symbols. The reels are the vertical columns that spin when you hit the button. The paylines are basically the lines that connect across the reels where winning combinations can land. Some slots have a fixed number of paylines while others allow you to choose how many you want to activate.
The symbols are the pictures/icons that land on the reels and specific combinations of these symbols shall result in the payouts. Most slots also include special symbols like wilds and it can be substituted for other symbols and scatters and these can unlock free spins or bonus rounds. Once you understand these three parts, which are reels, paylines and symbols, then you pretty much know and understand the basics of any slot machine.
Choose Your Bet Size
The next step is adjusting and setting your bet size. This is where you decide how much you want to wager or bet on each spin. Slots allow you to change your bet according to your budget and you can start low or go higher if you want to take on more risk.
Beginners should usually start with smaller bets so that their bankroll lasts a little longer and they get to play for longer in this way and understand the game a bit better. More experienced players sometimes raise their bet size when they are comfortable with a game or when a bonus round is close.
At the end of the day, your bet size should always fit your budget and never go more than what you can afford to lose.
Use Bonuses to Maximise Playtime
Bonuses are a major part of online slots and the right ones can give you a lot more playtime and this additional playtime can result in additional winnings too. Casinos run promotions like deposit matches, free spins or cashback and all of these can extend your budget without you actually spending more from your own pocket.
For example, a deposit bonus shall fetch you more bonus funds, while free spins let you spin certain slots without paying from your balance. The important thing is to read the terms and understand how wagering requirements work.
Bonuses are great in most cases, but they usually come with plenty of strings attached and you can only make the most of the bonus when you understand all the terms and conditions attached to it. So, make sure you read the fine print before you claim a bonus.
Try Free Play Before Betting Real Money
Most online casinos give you the option to try slots in free play mode. This means you can spin the reels without risking the loss of any actual money. Free play is a smart way to learn how a game works, see what features it offers and decide if you like the game and the theme, etc. before you actually deposit your own money and play for real.
Beginners should always start with free play because it lets you practice without pressure or risk. Even experienced players can benefit by testing new releases before they deposit any real money. Once you feel comfortable, you can move on to real money play and you’ll feel a lot more prepared for it.
Set Limits and Gamble Responsibly
The most important part of playing online slots is knowing your limits. It is very easy to get caught up in the excitement of playing and enjoying, but you should always play within a set budget. Decide in advance how much money and how much time you are willing to spend on a session. Once you hit those limits, then stop playing.
Responsible gambling also means not chasing losses and not raising your stakes just because you are on a losing run. Online slots are based on random results, so there is no way to force a win. By playing responsibly, you can avoid gambling harm, gambling addiction and financial crisis resulting from gambling addiction.
The Best Selection of Online Slots
Not every online slot is created equal, which is why we take the time to handpick only the best for South African players. The truth is that anyone can throw together a catalogue of slot machines, but quality counts more than quantity.
When we put together our selection, we look closely at fairness, entertainment factor, bonus features, mobile performance and the reputation of the game provider as well. This is the only way to make sure that players have a safe, fun and worthwhile experience every time when they log in.
Fairness comes first. Every slot that makes it onto our list works by the way of certified random number generators. This means that results cannot be manipulated and that every spin is truly random and hence fair.
We also look at RTP or Return to Player. This is the percentage of all money wagered that a slot pays back to players over time. A higher RTP means better value in the long run and so we highlight high RTP slots.
So, if you want to play some amazing slots and do so in a safe and fair way, then you would be best served by taking our suggestions and trying out some of our recommended slots at our recommended SA online casinos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, sure you can. In this day and age, virtually every online casino and slot is mobile-optimised. So, there are thousands of awesome mobile-friendly slots that you can play at online SA casinos. Just make sure that your mobile has active and stable internet connectivity.
There is no such thing as the one “safest” way to deposit. Any payment processor that a licensed casino offers in the cashier has been tested for safety. You should just make sure you follow general online safety best practices when making banking transactions online. For instance, avoid using a public wi-fi network or a shared computer/device. Some good payment options for SA players include InstantEFT, credit cards, e-wallets, etc.
RTP stands for return to player and is expressed as a percentage. For example, if a slot machine has an RTP of 95%, then it simply means that for every ZAR100 wagered on the slot, it will pay back $95 over time. The higher the RTP, the better it pays.
So long as you are playing at a licensed and regulated online casino, then all games on that site will be fair since the game results are driven by a random number generator algorithm and this algorithm itself is subject to third party testing and validation.
Not necessarily. Most modern online casinos these days will work within a web browser like Google Chrome or Safari and so you can play right within the browser without having to download or install any software.
For this, you will need to define and answer a few things. You will need to figure out your gaming budget, your risk tolerance, the themes you prefer, the volatility level you prefer and whether you like slots with lots of bonus rounds or simple slots without too many features. Once you know the answers to all of this, the right slots will naturally unveil themselves to you. However, the slots we have listed are generally great for everyone and most importantly, they are all safe and fair. So, if you just want to play a slot without deliberating too much about which one is right for you, then just pick from our list of recommendations and enjoy yourself.