10 Best Ethereum Casinos in South Africa

For the uninitiated, Ethereum or Ether (ETH) is a blockchain network that is independent of state control or any external authority. The network’s native currency, or token, is called Ether or Ethereum. The ETH currency is the blockchain network’s crypto asset, which enables digital transactions, and currency exchange.

You can but NFTS, and various other applications with Ethereum. Ethereum is just another Cryptocurrency, which has its own value in relation to fiat currencies.

What is an Ethereum Casino?

Any digital casino that supports Ethereum as a crypto-currency and an e-banking method is an Ethereum casino. Like Bitcoin casinos, Ethereum casinos can be classified as crypto casinos. Many crypto casinos offer crypto-currency as options, while fiat currencies are the default internal currencies, and the main e-payment options are conventional, like cards, e-wallets, etc. Still, if Ethereum is even one of the supported crypto-currencies, the casino can be called an Ethereum casino.

If you are a punter who uses Ethereum, here are a few things to know about Ethereum casinos:

• Ethereum casinos also offer casino games in various categories; some of them may be played only with crypto-currency, including Ethereum.

• Reliable Ethereum casinos use a Random Number Generator (RNG) software, which triggers provably fair results, and maintains the integrity of results.

• Punters who deposit with Ethereum are eligible to claim all kinds of crypto deposits, whether welcome packages or reload bonuses.

• Ethereum deposits and withdrawals make for quickfire transfers and transactions at competitive rates compared to conventional e-payment channels.

• iGamers can play their pet games for real money with a high degree of confidentiality and privacy by depositing and cashing out in Ethereum.

Ethereum Casino Bonuses

In 2020, the global online casino industry was valued at almost USD 67 billion. The pandemic had spurred the growth of online casinos since most countries had imposed lockdowns and punters spent time with gaming. Physical casinos and land-based sports betting markets were also closed. Online casinos always relied on promotions and bonuses, including crypto bonuses. But now, given the gargantuan market and the high demand, there is a cut-throat competition to acquire players.

Online casinos that do not offer a welcome package are rare. Crypto-currency is not a compulsory element in the majority of welcome packages at Ethereum casinos. At some casinos, there is a separate welcome bonus or package specifically for crypto-deposits. At some Ethereum casinos, you can often choose between the two. Not all Ethereum casinos offer crypto promotions and bonuses, but those who do can be classified as follows.

No-Deposit Ethereum Casino Bonuses

A no-deposit bonus does not entail a player from making a real money deposit in order to play and win real money. No-deposit bonuses are incentives to sign up offered by online casinos, including Ethereum casinos. They are usually offered as free spins or cash bonuses. For players, a no-deposit bonus gets them off to a good start at the casino; they can try out certain games, and possibly win real money for free. No-deposit bonuses usually come with the following considerations:

• You may not withdraw any wins till you have made at least one real money deposit at the casino. There may be other restrictions.

• The first real money deposit may or may not be in Ethereum or other cryptocurrencies, but it will be the only option in an exclusively crypto casino.

Deposit Ethereum Casino Bonuses

Deposit bonuses are monetary incentives for making qualifying deposits at casinos. A qualifying deposit is usually the minimum deposit to be made, but there may be other qualifying criteria, like the number of previous deposits, etc. The deposit could be cash awards, free spins, a deposit booster, or a combination. Common Ethereum deposit bonuses include:

Welcome Bonus: A welcome bonus generally comprises a percentage of your deposit, which is added as a bonus for the first deposit at a casino. The welcome package may extend to your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th deposits as well, there is usually a number of free spins thrown in as well. Some welcome bonuses may only consist of free spins or free chips.

Match Bonus: A match bonus is usually a reload bonus that is granted on deposits after playing out the welcome bonus or package. They are also called deposit boosters. The casino matches a percentage of your deposit and adds to it; that’s why they’re called match or matching bonuses.

Cashback bonus: Casinos often underwrite a percentage of your personal losses by returning it to you as a cashback bonus. The cashbacks could be daily, weekly, or monthly. Cashbacks allow you to minimize your personal losses. Bonus money does not count towards cashbacks. Cashbacks generally have a low wagering requirement or none at all.

Referral bonus: Online casinos are always looking for new members, and what better way to advertise, but through word-of-mouth of existing, satisfied, players. Referral bonuses are given to existing players who bring new members on board and make a deposit. Existing members are given cash awards or a small percentage of all deposits made through them.

No Wagering Ethereum Casino Bonuses

The majority of bonuses come with wagering obligations or play-through cycles. The bonus amount, oftentimes the deposit plus bonus amount, is required to be wagered a number of times before you can withdraw it. Otherwise, players may just withdraw the bonuses, and repeat the process at some other casino. Free spin wins also have to be played through a number of times. However, sometimes, the casino waives the wagering requirement as a special promotional strategy.

Reload Ethereum Casino Bonuses

Reload bonuses are the same as match bonuses or repeat deposit bonuses subsequent to the welcome package. The name comes from the fact that the casino incentivizes you to reload your account balance. Reload bonuses may be once or multiple times daily, weekly, or monthly. Reload bonuses may also come with a number of free spins. Sometimes the bonus percentage depends on deposit amounts.

Loyalty Rewards at Ethereum Casinos

The majority of online casinos offer loyalty reward programs to retain loyalty and encourage frequent play. Loyalty rewards programs work just like frequent flier programs. The idea is to incentivize members to play frequently. This is considered loyalty to the casino, which is rewarded. Every deposit on qualifying games is matched with loyalty points. Members can accumulate these points, and at some stage can redeem them for cash, or other rewards like free spins, etc.

Many loyalty programs have multi-tiered VIP Clubs where members use their loyalty points to join the elite club and climb through the levels. Every successive level of the VIP program has a higher loyalty points threshold, but each level also has increasing benefits. These are usually free spins, reload bonuses, cashbacks, and other rewards. Each level also gets you more cash for the same number of points. Other rewards are VIP hosts, faster withdrawals, elite vacation packages, etc.

How to Deposit and Withdraw Funds at Ethereum Casinos

This section will be useful for players who have not yet adopted Ethereum. It may seem complicated at first, but it’s actually a no-brainer. To payout in Ethereum, or accept payments at an Ethereum casino, you need the following:

• A balance of Ethereum currency

• An Ethereum wallet

To make an Ether deposit

• Log in to your casino account

• Visit your banking or ‘cashier’ section

• Click on ‘Deposit’

• Select Ethereum from the payment methods offered

• Enter your crypto wallet details

• Enter the amount of ETH you want to deposit

• Proceed as per other prompts, if there

• Submit the ETH deposit

The deposit will be added to your casino balance in minutes.

To withdraw your winnings using Ethereum

Before making a cashout request, you must check a few things. Make sure you don’t have a pending playthrough requirement. Next, check that you have sufficient funds to request an ETH withdrawal. Do keep your identity verification documents at hand since the casino can ask for them anytime. Then, log in to your account, and do the following:

• Head to the ‘cashier’ or banking section

• Click on ‘Withdraw’

• Select Ethereum as your payment method

• Enter your cashout amount on ETH

• Enter or copy/paste the address of your crypto wallet

• Submit the request

After verification of your account, your ETH withdrawal amount will be duly reflected in your Ethereum wallet.

Most Popular Games at Ethereum Casinos

Casinos are where people play games for real money, but punters play for entertainment as well. After security, the games library is the most important aspect of online casinos. The best Ethereum casinos are those that are licensed and have a vast and diverse games library in all popular categories. The games are provided by a group of leading iGaming software studios. Some of the most celebrated providers are Microgaming, Evolution, BetSoft, Real Time Gaming, Rival, Play ‘N Go, etc.

Slots

Slot games are the most popular among casino players. They comprise the lion’s share of all casino libraries. The finest Ethereum casinos are those that offer the finest in popular themed narratives, have games with sophisticated graphics and animations. The most popular games have player-friendly bonus features. Fruit machines were all the rage at land-based casinos, but they were relatively simple.

The digital age revolutionized slot games, and studios outdid themselves in creating slots in different genres like ancient civilizations, animals, horror, fantasy, fairy tales, and even games inspired by pop culture like films, etc. Studios then added more reels and rows, and higher number of pay-lines and bonus features, double or quit games, and static or progressive jackpots.

Table games

Slots are popular because they are games of pure chance. However, individual slot games have relatively short shelf lives. In contrast, card games and roulette have been around for centuries. Table games are the foundation on which the first land-based casinos were built. These traditional games pose certain challenges that enable players to develop skills and use them to win, even with low odds.

Table games offer some of the highest odds at casinos, whether land-based or online, and Ethereum casinos are no different. All table games have rules where players acquaint themselves with the rules and play accordingly. These games do not lend themselves well to bonuses unless there are promotions customized for them. They contribute only a fraction towards the play-through requirement.

Progressive Jackpots

A progressive jackpot game is part of a network. Since players bet on the same game from different parts of the world, a part of the bets is collected in a separate pot. Over a period of time, the pots swell into 5, 6, 7, and even 8 figures till a winner is lucky enough to win the whole pot. Players become instant multi-millionaires, but they are rare instances.

Progressive jackpots are mostly confined to slot games, but can also be networked in other games, most often card games. Progressive jackpots are different from static jackpots in games, where the maximum winning amount is pre-set. After a progressive jackpot is won, the pot resets to the basic or seed value, which begins at a million USD or EUR in the biggest games, and the accumulation of bets starts again.

Live Dealer Games

Land-based casinos have exciting, glamorous environments and live dealer games simulate the atmosphere as much as they can. Live croupiers host card games, roulette variants, and game shows from remote studios dressed up as glamorous sets. Dealers use real cards and roulette wheels, which are reflected on players’ screens, from where they can play against other punters in an interactive environment.

Live dealer games were conceptualized in the early days of online gaming, but it took more than a decade to perfect live streaming technologies. And now, no Ethereum casino worth its salt can afford not to have a live games section. After all, even the most ardent table games fans can get tired of playing by themselves against a lifeless system dealer.

Video Poker

Video poker is basically 5-card poker, which is played on slot-like consoles. Video poker was developed at the height of the video boom of the 1970s, and targeted players who liked playing poker but lacked the opportunities or skills. Video poker has a casual relationship with operators where not all Ethereum casinos have a dedicated section for the category.

Instead of playing against other players, you’re basically playing against the system. You do not need to keep a poker face, but it helps if you have basic poker skills. Video poker usually has the lowest house edge, but there are other reasons why the category is still popular. All video poker versions can be played in single or multiple hands, which can multiply your winnings depending on your luck, or skill.

How to Choose an Ethereum Gambling Site or Casino

If you like playing with Ethereum, it can be very easy to find an Ethereum casino, but it can be very tricky to find an ETH casino, which is just right for you. The right ETH casino can depend on your country of residence, the types of casino games you play, and whether you like playing with bonuses or not. However, certain criteria are paramount.

The Ethereum casino you choose should be licensed by a respected regulator. The operator must follow the mandated, industry-standard protocols for safety and fair gaming. The casino should have round-the-clock customer service, preferably with phone support. Here are some ways to verify whether an Ethereum casino you are considering ticks the right boxes:

Read Reviews

All casinos are vigorously independently reviewed by analysts and experts. Many of them go deep into the operations of online casinos and evaluate them on various criteria. Avoid affiliate sites, which are supposedly objective, but are vehicles for paid reviews that fail to critically assess the gaming sites. You can easily make out which reviews are genuine, and which are written to create a favourable bias.

Review sites also have feedback from real players, but these may consist of disgruntled players, who did not follow rules. People even write positive ‘feedback’ for money. You may also visit iGaming forums where real players share their views on various Ethereum casinos they have played at, and where they air their views. These are interactive platforms where you can ask questions.

Licence Details

As mentioned, when selecting an online, the golden rule is that it must be licensed by a respected gaming regulator, preferably more than one. When you delve into research, you will be able to determine who the most sought-after licensing authorities are and who are passable. However, the license is still important. Most Ethereum casinos publish their licensing information, which can be easily verified.

Even licensed casinos may have unscrupulous or irresponsible operators. The regulators may lack teeth, due to which the operators are not held accountable. But such instances are rare. However, unlicensed casinos are not even technically accountable, and players could be at risk of fraud. A licensed operator follows guidelines set by regulators to create a fair, secure, and responsible gaming environment.

Ethereum Support

Just because an online casino accepts Ethereum deposits, does not automatically mean that you can withdraw in Ethereum, or that the casino supports your ETH wallet. For greater security, it’s always better to use the same Ethereum wallet for deposits and withdrawals.

It’s better to contact customer support before joining the Ethereum casino and verify whether your Ethereum wallet can be used for both inward and outward remittances. If you can easily change your wallet, fine, but if not, you may want to look for another Ethereum casino.

Bonuses & Promotions

As stated, the majority of Ethereum casinos offer all kinds of bonuses and promotions. If you’re a player who likes playing with bonuses, then you may look for one with ample promotions. However, multiple bonuses will only burden you with heavy bonus rules, from which you may never recover.

Some casinos have fair bonus rules while some Ethereum casinos may have terms and conditions that are designed to exploit players and punish them for even using their bonuses. It’s always better to read the bonus and general terms before signing up. In fact, most Ethereum casinos encourage it.

Game Collection

The games library at your potential Ethereum casino must have the games you like to play. If you’re a slots lover, this shouldn’t be a major problem. However, you may look at the number of slots, and the studios they come from. They must also be available in your country.

If you’re a table games fan, look in the lobby, if they have your card games, and roulette versions, and how many. If live dealer games are your thing, look at the live dealer section, and the studios they come from. Again, look for your favourite card games, roulette variants, and the number of game shows.

If progressive jackpots are your thing, look at the current values of the game pots, which are usually given on the game icons. Some Ethereum casinos may feature smaller progressives, but not games that can make you an instant millionaire. Not all Ethereum casinos have video poker or casual games.

Customer Support

All Ethereum casinos have customer support, but the responsiveness will vary. Not many Ethereum casinos will have round-the-clock support or phone support. Look for an FAQ section, which can be the first step towards customer service.

Still, it is highly unlikely that you will play at an online casino without having an issue, for which you need to interact with a support executive. The best Ethereum casinos will have 24/7 responsive support that can be reached via live chat, e-mail, and phone, preferably a toll-free number.

Online Casino Software Providers that Accept Ethereum

It may be news to many that gaming studios can play a big part in Ethereum or crypto-currencies being a part of the payment methods offered. Games from these influential providers must support Ethereum and other digital currencies, or else the operator cannot offer them as e-banking options. Luckily, all the major studios like Microgaming, Playtech, Evolution, NetEnt, BetSoft, Real Time Gaming, Rival, Play ‘N Go, Pragmatic Play, EGT, support major Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, etc.

Pros of Ethereum Gambling

Playing with Ethereum has the following advantages

✅ Decentralization: Ethereum is the second-most decentralized digital currency after Bitcoin. You have total control over your Ethereum assets, at least for now although future versions like Ethereum 2.0 may be slightly different. Ethereum cannot be controlled by third parties or even by governments. This is in stark contrast to the control of external entities with conventional payment methods like cards and online banking. You do not have to worry about accounts being frozen, or payments being rolled back.

✅ Smart Contracts: Ethereum utilizes a blockchain network that works with smart contracts. Both parties are signatories to every transaction. As a result, once a bet is placed, it cannot be removed. One of the parties cannot distance itself from the transaction, once it has been initiated, since the entire process is digitally automatic. This promotes mutual confidence among users and operators.

✅ Speed and Cost of Transactions: A big advantage of withdrawing in Ethereum or other crypto-currencies is that transactions are lightning-fast, or almost. Ethereum funds usually travel at speeds of 15 seconds in all. Conventional payment methods can take anywhere between 10 5 days to have your funds in your bank account. Another advantage is the cost factor. Ethereum transactions have lower processing fees for third parties and miners than traditional e=payment methods. This is especially beneficial for big winners, who may lose a significant portion of their winnings to third party processing fees.

✅ Privacy and Anonymity: Ethereum transactions are made confidentially and you do not have to provide any personal information. You only have to provide the address of your ETH wallet. Since your identity is not revealed, there’s no risk of misuse of data. Most players who gamble online wish to do so anonymously and crypto-currencies like Ethereum enable them to be so.

Cons of Ethereum Gambling

❌ Volatile Value: From its inception in 2014, the value of Ethereum versus fiat currencies has skyrocketed. A jump of $0.31 for 50 million ETH to $3,000 for a single ETH coin in 8 years is huge. However, it is a two-way street, and even a small step in the opposite direction can have a major impact on users. While price rise is the main attraction for investors, a small drop in prices can mean disaster for some.

❌ Learning Curve: It takes some time for new users to get used to the process of setting up an ETH wallet, buying Ethereum, and using the wallet to make deposits and withdraw. This learning curve involves some compulsory digital protocols, which is what may deter many potential Ethereum users. It is just easier to wager with a credit card and withdraw through it as well.

Mobile Ethereum Casinos

This is the age of mobile gaming, and no casino, Ethereum or otherwise, can afford not to have a mobile-compatible platform. There was a time when Android and iOS downloadable casino apps were the order of the day, and people often had to play offline.

But now, thanks to higher bandwidths and robust internet connectivity, punters prefer to play online, and many of them like to play while on the move. Ethereum casinos can now be accessed on practically all smartphones and tablets that run on Android, Windows Phone, iOS, etc.

The Safety of Ethereum Gambling

Ethereum is inherently a safer medium for casino gaming than fiat currencies. Transactions are peer to peer, so there is no risk of being flagged by banks or other external institutions. Ethereum transactions also confer a high degree of confidentiality, since the only transaction data is in the form of your ETH wallet address. But still, all transactions are verifiable, and since all Ethereum casinos have SSL-encrypted firewalls, there is no danger of identity theft.

Provably Fair Ethereum Casinos

Provably fair games are games, whose results are demonstrably fair, or random. You need to be assured that the game you’re playing at the Ethereum casino is not rigged. Games from reliable Ethereum and other casinos are tested by independent auditors for the presence of the Random Number Generator (RNG), the algorithm that triggers chance results. RNG audits also make sure that the game’s software is in accordance with the game’s published return to player (RTP).

Ethereum Wallets Available to South African Users

There are various Ethereum wallets that can be used by players from the Rainbow Nation, but they come with various tradeoffs. Some are easy to use, while others have more security features. It may take a little research, but you need to find the right balance to suit your needs. A few South African friendly Ethereum wallets are given below:

• Binance

• eToro

• Coinbase

• Binance

• Luno

• CoinCorner

• Exodus

• Electrum

• MyCelium

• Gemini

Ethereum Casino Sites with a Faucet Feature

Some Ethereum casinos offer players the flexibility to earn small Ethereum amounts in exchange for completing certain tasks on the platform. These tasks could be mundane like taking surveys or completing captchas, among others. Such incentives are called faucets. A few top Ethereum online casinos that feature faucets are BitStarz, mBitcasino, and 7Bitcasino.

Ethereum casinos, and crypto casinos in general, are touted as the future of iGaming. However, we do not see crypto-currencies fully substituting fiat currencies at online casinos. There are many advantages of playing with Ethereum, but not all players will adopt crypto-currency for gaming or otherwise. There are too many grey areas and uncertainties.