As the online gambling market in South Africa continues evolving, new casinos keep emerging to shake things up. One relative newcomer making waves is 888Starz, which launched in 2020 but has quickly gained popularity in South Africa for its wide array of gaming options paired with crypto rewards. This review will give you the inside scoop to see if this casino is all hype or the real deal for SA punters. We’ll explore everything from game variety and bonuses to crucial factors like licensing and payments.
Pros and Cons of 888Starz
- Great welcome promotions
- Valid local licence in South Africa
- Great variety of betting options
- Responsive support team
- Android and iOS apps
- Limited banking methods
- The sportsbook section can be improved
Background
Based in Curaçao and owned by Bittech B.V., 888Starz burst onto the scene in 2020 as one of the first “DeFi gambling” platforms. This means it aims to provide a decentralized, blockchain-powered gambling and crypto-mining experience. Early reception has been enthusiastic, with punters praising the diversity of gaming options and the innovative 888 token rewards scheme. This allows players to earn crypto tokens and passive income based on their gameplay and the casino’s revenue.
| Category | Details |
| Launch Year | 2020 |
| Ownership | Bittech B.V. |
| Licence | Curaçao Gambling Authority |
| Games | 4000+ |
| Bonuses | Sports & Casino Welcome Bonuses |
| Payments | Cryptos, Cards, E-Wallets |
| Mobile Play | Browser, Android and iOS App |
Bonuses & Promotions
What good is a shiny new casino without juicy bonuses and promos to unlock extra value? 888Starz doesn’t disappoint in this department, with a stellar welcome bonus and regular reload offers up for grabs.
Welcome Bonus
New players can take their pick from two tempting welcome bonuses:
- Sportsbook – 100% Match up to 1736 ZAR
- Casino – Up to €1,500 + 150 Free Spins
To activate the sportsbook offer, just register an account and deposit up to 1736 ZAR. Your 100% match bonus will then be automatically credited for sports or esports betting.
For the online casino, make a minimum 174 ZAR first deposit to receive the first portion of your 4-part welcome package:
| Deposit | Match % | Max Bonus (ZAR) | Free Spins |
| 1st | 100% | 5,208 | 30 |
| 2nd | 50% | 6,076 | 35 |
| 3rd | 25% | 6,944 | 40 |
| 4th | 25% | 7,812 | 45 |
With up to €1,500 in bonus funds plus 150 free spins on iconic slot games, this is one of the most valuable SA welcome offers available.
Ongoing Promotions
The treats don’t stop after the welcome offer at 888Starz. Players can take advantage of weekly and recurring promos like:
- Tuesday Sports Cashback – 3% back on losses
- Bonus +100% to deposit up to 100 EUR every Thursday
- Seasonal tournaments – up to €500,000 pools
- Game-specific free spins & bonuses
- Special birthday promos
The innovative VIP program also rewards players with cashback up to 11% based on the loyalty points earned from all gaming activities.
Casino Games
A top attraction of 888Starz is unquestionably their immense game portfolio spanning all the popular varieties South African players know and love. Let’s explore some gameplay highlights.
Slots
With over 4,000 online slot titles, the casino gives players an endless reel-spinning adventure. Major providers like Betsoft and Netgame supply the platform with beloved slots like:
- Bonanza Billion
- Buffalo Wild
- Zombies
- Wild West
- Exotic Fruit
No matter your favourite theme or volatility level, you’re sure to find captivating slots tailored to your taste in the 888Starz library.
Table Games
Beyond slots, users can enjoy a full suite of virtual table games including:
- 59 Blackjack variants
- 72 Roulette tables
- 22 Baccarat selections
Tables cater to all bet sizes and skill levels, ensuring both casual and high stakes players feel at home.
Live Casino
For the live dealer experience, 888Starz hosts premium streams in an instant-play interface covering:
- Roulette
- Blackjack
- Three Card Poker
- Game shows
With friendly dealers and high-quality streams, the Live Casino captures the thrill of your favorite tables from home.
Jackpots
For players chasing life-changing wins, 888Starz spotlights hundreds of jackpot games with pools continuously rising into the millions. Some highlights include:
- Sweet Reward
- Double Rich
- Green Chilli 2
- Buffalo Hold and Win
With lucrative networked prizes crossing slot and table games, lucky spins could unlock a massive jackpot any time!
Sports Betting
While the online casino takes centre stage, 888Starz sportsbook provides an equally robust wagering experience across 50+ sports categories.
Sports
Football, tennis, cricket, and rugby fans can bet on all domestic competitions and major international leagues. The platform covers individual fixtures in granular detail with 100+ markets per event. This includes all the traditional wagers along with player props, halves, spreads, and live betting.
But soccer and rugby aren’t the only games around. The 888Starz sportsbook delves deeper into niche sports like:
- MMA & Boxing
- Cycling
- Darts
- Snooker
- Water polo
- Chess
- And even televised award shows!
You’ll also find an entire virtual sports lobby with simulated football, horse races, greyhounds, and more available 24/7.
Types of Bets
No matter the sport, 888Starz offers an extensive selection of bet types including:
| Bet Type | Description |
| Moneyline | Pick the outright winner of the game. |
| Totals | Wager on whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a set score. |
| Spreads | Bet against set handicaps on teams, where you predict if a team will win by more or fewer points than the set handicap. |
| Props | Wager on specific player milestones, events occurring during the game, or other non-outcome related aspects. |
| Futures | Predict winners far in advance, such as season champions or tournament winners. |
| Parlays | Combine multiple individual bets into one larger bet for a potentially higher payout. |
| Live | Bet on ever-changing odds during a match or game. |
With so many ways to get in the game, bettors of all kinds will enjoy crafting their ideal wagers.
Banking & Payments
When it comes to moving your rand in and out seamlessly, the operator provides South African players versatile banking with competitive options. Depositing and withdrawing funds at 888Starz is done in various ways in just a few clicks:
| Method | Brands Accepted | Fees |
| Credit Cards | Visa, Mastercard | No |
| eWallets | Skrill, Neteller, Jeton Wallet | No |
| Cryptocurrency | 35+ Coins (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and others) | No |
When it comes to moving money in and out of 888Starz, South African players can expect near-instantaneous transaction speeds. Thanks to the crypto and blockchain infrastructure, deposits are credited to your account immediately after the network confirms the transfer. Even if you opt for traditional payment methods, funds are rapidly processed to minimize waiting. On the flip side, cashing out your winnings is equally swift with eWallet and crypto withdrawals completed in around 15 minutes on average.
Mobile Experience
Gamers on the go will enjoy 888Starz whether playing in browser or via the dedicated app. The responsive mobile site automatically adapts to your phone or tablet screen with no loss of performance. Navigation remains intuitive with games, betting, and banking just a tap away.
Customer Support
Questions or issues inevitably arise with even the top gambling sites. So how does 888Starz customer assistance stack up? Overall response quality meets expectations with several reliable contact methods:
| Contact Method | Description |
| Live Chat | Quick answers within the app from human representatives. |
| Phone | Call +44 (208) 157-60-12 to speak to an agent during South African hours. |
| Send inquiries to [email protected]; though slower, it allows for detailed issue recording. |
While live chat occasionally suffers longer queues, reaching a casino staffer via call or email proved successful. The team demonstrates courteous, patient service when resolving player inquiries. As a newer brand, 888Starz still has room to grow their support capacity compared to giants with hundreds of personnel. But current operations show promise to meet increased demand.
Security & Licensing
When sending personal information and money online, safety rightfully remains a top priority. 888Starz checks the box for securely handling sensitive user data by leveraging encryption and firewall protections. The site also achieved full certification and licensing under the reputable Curaçao Gambling Authority. Rigorous independent testing guarantees fair randomness within games as well giving South Africans assurance of ethical practices.
Know Your Customer (KYC) verification steps during account creation also prevent potential fraud and underage sign ups. Despite isolated complaints of opaque account restrictions, 888Starz administration overall appears committed to lawful, safe operations.
FAQs
What cryptocurrencies does 888Starz support?
As a crypto leader, the operator accepts over 37 coins including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin plus niche favourites like Cardano and Monero.
Can I try games for free before depositing money?
Yes, 888Starz offers demo/free play modes on all real money games, so players can test titles risk-free!
Does the sportsbook offer horse racing betting?
Yes, the dedicated horse racing section covers races from South Africa and around the globe daily.
Can I bet on eSports matches live?
Yes! The eSports hub allows live betting with odds shifting in real-time during matches.
Is bingo available on the site?
Yes, head to the Bingo section to play 90 and 75 ball bingo with jackpot prizes up for grabs.
Do I need a casino bonus code?
Nope, no bonus code required. All listed welcome bonuses and ongoing promos activate automatically when you qualify.
Tony Ehrenreich
