Highest RTP Slots for South Africans
Most players want to know which online slots give the best long-term return, and South African players are no different. The number to look at is RTP, or return to player: the share of all money wagered that a slot is designed to pay back over a very long run of spins. The higher the RTP, the lower the house edge.
A high RTP is not a promise of anything, and it does not make a slot a good fit for you on its own. It works best alongside gameplay you enjoy and bonus features that suit your style. Below are the high RTP slots we have reviewed, using the RTP figures from our own slot database. For the full ranked list, scroll down to the table at the end of the page. If you are new to the term, our guide to what RTP is explains it in more detail.
What RTP means (and doesn’t)
RTP is a long-term average worked out over millions of spins. A slot with a 98% RTP is designed to return R98 of every R100 wagered across all players over time, keeping R2 as the house edge. That is a statement about the game as a whole, not about your session.
In a single session, anything can happen. You might play a 99% RTP slot and lose your whole budget in minutes, or play a 96% slot and walk away ahead. Slots use random number generators, so every spin is independent. No game is “hot” today or “due” a win, and a high RTP does not change that. If you have searched for which slot is “easy to win today”, the honest answer is that no slot is, and nobody can tell you otherwise. Our one-minute video explains why a losing run does not make a win due.
RTP is also only half the picture. Volatility tells you how often and how big the wins tend to be: low volatility slots pay smaller wins more often, while high volatility slots pay less often but can pay more when they do. Two slots with the same RTP can feel completely different to play. You can read more in our explainer on slot variance, which includes a short video comparing two games with the same RTP.
Book of 99
Relax Gaming’s Book of 99 has the highest RTP on our list, at 99%. That is well above what most slots offer. The 5-reel, 10-line online slot is themed around Greek mythology, and its high return is not its only feature.
Players can also benefit from the free spins feature enhanced with a special expanding symbol. Free spins can be triggered in two ways: by landing at least 3 wilds on a single spin or by collecting them to fill the dedicated meter.
1429 Uncharted Seas (Thunderkick) 98.50%
Since its debut in 2014, 1429 Uncharted Seas has remained one of the most popular online slots among players from different countries, including South Africa. It combines low volatility, an RTP of 98.50% and a hit frequency of 41.2% on 25 pay lines, in a sea adventure designed by the Thunderkick team.
While exploring unknown oceans, you can meet expanding wilds that appear on reels 2, 3 and 4 and cover the entire column when included on a winning line. There are also chances to trigger up to 50 free spins.
The Catfather
Not a fan of cats? Even if your relationship with these graceful animals is complicated, you might still like The Catfather, which has an RTP of 98.10%.
Created by Pragmatic Play, this 5-reel slot has 9 lines that pay both ways. Other features include stacked wilds that appear at random and a free spins feature that multiplies your prizes by four.
Gold Rush
A high payback percentage is not only found in modern video slots. If you prefer old-school 3-reelers, there are strong options for you too.
For instance, Gold Rush is a classic game inspired by the gold rushes of the 19th century, with just 1 pay line and an RTP of 98.02%. Rival added scatters that pay regardless of the line, and wild symbols that multiply wins by 2x or 4x.
Basic Instinct
Branded slots are often said to be less generous than other games. That is not always the case, and Basic Instinct from iSoftBet is a good example, with an RTP of 97.99%.
Based on the hugely successful movies, this 243 ways to win slot features three different stacked wilds that deliver wins, trigger free spins and activate the bonus round, which can award a Progressive Jackpot.
Grand Luxe
Another high RTP slot is designed by Nucleus Gaming and called Grand Luxe. It has an RTP of 97.53%, and its theme is the glitz and glamour of the Roaring 20s, built around a posh Yellow Coupe.
One or two Yellow Coupe icons act as a standard wild, while three or more trigger the Grand Luxe event, which awards re-spins with moving wilds and a chance to win 1,000x the bet by filling the Luxury meter. The meter has 15 levels and goes up one level each time a Yellow Coupe drives off the reels.
Sinbad
Sinbad has crisp graphics and lively animation, but its real strength is its bonus features. With an RTP of 97.08%, this Quickspin slot offers free spins in three different types of variance: high-volatility Ape, medium-volatility Roc and low-volatility Snake.
The playing field is unusual, with three rows on reels 1 and 5 and four rows on reels 2, 3 and 4. You can form winning combinations on 40 pay lines, with randomly stacked reels, wild symbols and the choice between the three free spins bonuses.
A note on Zeus Lightning Power Reels
An earlier version of this page listed Zeus Lightning Power Reels. We have removed it because the RTP in our database is 95.66%, which does not belong on a highest RTP list. You can still read our Zeus Lightning Power Reels review if you like the game itself.
Casinos can run slots at lower RTP settings
Many slot providers offer the same game with more than one RTP setting, and the casino chooses which version to run. That means the same slot at one casino may return less over the long run than at another. Before you play, open the game’s info or help screen, where the RTP is normally shown, and check that it matches the figure you expect. The RTPs on this page are the figures from our database and may not apply to every casino.
If you are comparing the other end of the scale, see our list of the lowest RTP slots for South Africans.
Highest RTP slots on Hollywoodbets
Many South African players search for the highest RTP slots on Hollywoodbets. Its Spina Zonke section is where you will find many of its slots. Our top 5 biggest paying Spina Zonke games page compares those games by RTP, and our Hollywoodbets review covers the casino itself, including a minimum deposit of R1 and a minimum withdrawal of R50 by EFT.
Full highest RTP slots list
Play responsibly
Slots are entertainment, not a way to make money, and no RTP guarantees a result. You must be 18 or older to gamble, and casino terms and conditions apply. Play within limits you can afford. If gambling is causing you problems, call the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation counselling line on 0800 006 008, open 24 hours a day.