Logo of the new crash game: Galaxy Blast

Hey Bolters! It's time to buckle up and reach for the ZARs. The fresh, fabulously exciting crash game genre has dropped at Thunderbolt Casino. The first in the series, Galaxy Blast, is so darn hot it’ll blow up your betting balance like a hot air balloon.

Read more: Whoopee! Cash-In on the Casino Crash Game Category at Thunderbolt!

An illustration of a web page and a mobile phone app with chain link on a pale-yellow background

If you’re a fan of online casino gaming, you’ve probably wondered how to get the best experience on your mobile device. Whether you’re an iOS enthusiast or an Android devotee, Thunderbolt Casino has you covered with our HTML5 browser-based platform!

Read more: The Ultimate Mobile Casino Experience at Thunderbolt Casino

An image of two cast-iron pots filled with gold at the ends of a rainbow against a blue sky

Hey, Bolters! Have you been checking the news? A big change is about to hit retirement funds. It’s called the two-pot system, and it’s being implemented on 1 September 2024. We don’t want to brag or anything, but at Thunderbolt Casino, we know a thing or two about pots. Online casino jackpots!

Read more: One Pot? Two-Pot? How About Online Casino Jackpots at Thunderbolt!

A pop art comic style illustration of the acronym LOL in yellow on a red background

With instant messaging and SMS being the main methods of communication, acronyms have come of age. They have evolved from conventional short forms like Thunderbolt FAQs, to a fun and flexible lexicon all of its own. We have rounded up some of the more hilarious acronyms for your entertainment!

Read more: LOL at Humorous Acronyms and Thunderbolt FAQs

An illustration of a white speech bubble with the words ‘price drop’ on a purple lined pop art style background

Haibo! The past few years (decades?) have been rough on the citizens of Mzansi. With the cost of living at a record high, just taking a breath of fresh Wild Coast air feels like it’s going to be too expensive. Thunderbolt Casino bonuses have been a little BIG blessing, but we have more good news…

Read more: ZAR Relief for Mzansi! Interest Rates, Petrol & Thunderbolt Casino Bonuses

A photo of a man in a purple jersey in front of a pink background gesturing ‘bring it on’ with his hands

How do you turn the number ‘21’ into M-O-N-E-Y? You play online blackjack games at Thunderbolt Casino. Hit a natural in diamonds… and 3 to 2 becomes 2 to 1! Play Match Play 21 instead and it is sevens that count. Not sure what we are on about? No biggie. We’ve got it covered!

Read more: Online Blackjack Games? Bring It On Baby!

A close-up photo of a smiling man’s face and hands holding fanned out real money bills on a light background

With a harsh winter setting in, finding something fun to do on a quiet night in can be challenging. The good news is that you’ve been given the green light to sign-up with Thunderbolt Casino, and you’re on the site quicker than a drag race on the streets of Brakpan. Real money casino gaming can easily become expensive if you’re not careful. So, how can you make the most of the welcome bonus?

Read more: How to Make the Most Out of Your Real Money Casino Welcome Bonus

A 3D image of female celebrity sitting on a high stool surrounded by hands holding a mic, camera, phone

Tyla, Siya, Trevor and Minnie Dlamini. That is a quick roundabout of celebs and VIPs. They may not all be in Mzansi but they are Seffricans and they are rocking it seriaasly! As for the VIP casino program – it is an exclusive invitation to play more, do more and win more at Thunderbolt.

Read more: The VIP (Casino) Program: Who and What is Rocking It in Mzansi in 2024

An illustrated image of a hand holding a thunderbolt on a midnight blue background

Thunderbolt "who"? Yep! Believe it or not okes, but it is not only our lekker Thunderbolt casino bonuses that represent a flash of lightning with a ‘klap’ of thunder on the side. There is lots of stuff with exactly the same moniker. Some are dope. Others not so much.

Read more: 4 Famous Thunderbolts: Cars, Nasty Characters & Thunderbolt Casino Bonuses!

A blurry close-up image of a game machine with clunky buttons with the focus on the ‘select game’ button

If a swarming selection of video poker online is what you’re after, then listen up chommies, Thunderbolt Casino is the place to be! Besides our famous selection of SpinLogic slots, we offer table games, specialty games, progressive jackpots and of course, video poker.

We might not add new video poker games to our collections as often as we do slots, but there is still more than enough to keep you entertained. Plus, every once in a while, we do like to surprise our players with new variants of video poker online, as we did with Pick ‘Em Poker!

Read more: The Sleekest Edge in Video Poker Online at Thunderbolt

A close-up image of a hand holding a gold nugget against a dark and blurry background

Howzit, Thunderbolters! Welcome to the exhilarating world of Thunderbolt Casino, where the rush of the 21st century gold lies hidden within the reels of progressive jackpot slots. Just like the intrepid miners of old who ventured into the unknown to find their fortunes, today’s adventurers can discover their own treasure – all with the click of a button, nogal.

Here at Thunderbolt, the appeal of striking it rich ignites the excitement, offering a chance to win life-changing sums of money that escalate faster than a cheetah on the chase. These aren’t just any slots, okes. They’re your ticket to joining the ranks of digital prospectors seeking their fortune in the vast expanse of the internet!

Read more: The 21st Century Gold Rush: Progressive Jackpot Slots at Thunderbolt

An illustration of golden Chinese Zodiac symbols on a red background

When we say howzit tjom, bru, or china, you know exactly what we’re talking about. For those who don’t, “china” does not refer to the country, but it’s an endearing term to reference our pals! Whilst we’re on the subject of china, have you ever heard of the Chinese Zodiac or how it relates to mobile casino gaming?

Whether that’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, we’re going to tell you all about it anyway! Kick off your plakkies and sit back as we’re about to explore the ancient cosmic dance that intertwines fate, fortune, and the thrill of mobile casino gaming at Thunderbolt.

Read more: Get Lucky with Mobile Casino Gaming & The Chinese at Thunderbolt

A blackboard with the the text ‘easy as’ and ‘1, 2 and 3’ as steps written in white and pink

When used strategically, a casino welcome bonus is a gift that keeps on giving. Plus, come on, okes. It is free money added to your bankroll! The trick is to get the full benefit of the new player promo – and we will show you how.

The good news is it does not involve rocket science… Nor does it have any impact on the fun factor typically associated with gaming online. All you have to do is make smart and informed decisions about the key elements that are present in all casino welcome bonus offers.

Do that and you can extend your online casino betting sessions. If you are lucky, you may even gain a small profit thanks to the generosity of a gaming platform like our very own Thunderbolt Casino! Now let’s dig into those 3 steps you can take to get the best out of your casino welcome bonus:

Read more: How to Maximise Your Casino Welcome Bonus in 3 Easy Steps

A white paper note with the text frowning and smiling, with frowning struck out in red, and a red smiley face on a grey background

Januworry, hey? We’ve all been there. The festive season’s a blast, but then comes January with its tight budgets and long days. There’s no need to fret too much! While you’re counting the days until payday, online slots South Africa at Thunderbolt Casino are here to add some sparkle to your month.

It’s not just about passing time by playing our online slots South Africa though… It’s also about making the most of every moment, even in Januworry! The good news is that at Thunderbolt Casino, we turn those Januworry frowns upside down.

How, you ask? Through our electrifying online slots and a parade of bonuses that keep the excitement at a high. Log in to your account, and lo and behold, your personal inbox is brimming with treats galore. We’re talking juicy cashback, free spins, and our signature match deposit bonuses. It’s like finding a hidden oasis in the middle of a dry month!

Read more: Online Slots South Africa & Bonuses – Get Through Januworry!

An image of arms holding a graduation cap and certificate against a bright sunny blue sky

Are you ready to kick off 2024 with a bang and add a dash of excitement to your New Year’s resolutions? Whether you’re looking to shed that spare tire, or keen to say “Sawubona” in a new local tongue, we’ve got a plot twist for you! How about playing South African casino games with an educational spin?

You read right. Playing games at Thunderbolt Casino could be a journey packed with learning opportunities. Now, we’re not talking about snooze-worthy classroom lectures. No, sir! Imagine mastering probability while you’re having a jol with slots or sharpening your strategic thinking at the poker table?

Put on your graduation cap, fellow students of life! We’re about to embark on a quest that’s as educational as it is electrifying. Stay tuned as we dig deeper into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of learning with South African casino games at Thunderbolt. You won’t want to miss this!

Read more: Learning with South African Casino Games at Thunderbolt in 2024!

Golden and carbon VIP poker chips on a dark background

Ever fancied yourself as the big boss of the online casino scene? Imagine you’ve aced the slots and conquered the blackjack tables, but now, you’re itching for the next level of gaming luxury. That’s where Thunderbolt Online Casino’s VIP club comes into play, promising an experience so lekker, it’s like hitting the jackpot without even spinning the reels.

Now, you might be thinking, “is jumping into the VIP game really worth it?” Well, grab your cyber sunglasses, because we’re about to take you on a lekker ride through the virtual corridors of Thunderbolt Online Casino, where exploring why VIP status isn’t just an upgrade – it’s a sweet gaming revolution.

We’re not just talking about a few extra perks. We’re talking about a gaming experience so top-notch, you’ll be shouting “Bingo!” before the ball even drops!

Read more: Is the VIP Club Your High Roller Haven at Thunderbolt Online Casino?

An image of a holiday concept with 2023 decorations and a gift box with a red bow on a wooden table

Ho ho ho! It’s that magical time of year again, folks! As we cozy up for the December chill, let’s take a merry stroll down memory lane and revisit the rollercoaster ride that was 2023 at Thunderbolt Casino. What a year it has been!

2023 has been a kaleidoscope of thrilling bonuses, scorching hot new games, history-making events (that involved golden trophies), and a whole host of other jamborees, making our casino online the place to be. With racing hearts and sweaty palms, let’s dive in!

Read more: Season’s Greetings! 2023 in Review at Thunderbolt Casino Online

A red cheat sheet stamp, isolated on white

Playing online casino games at Thunderbolt Casino is lekker. Whether you win lots of bucks, win a few of them – or bust your bankroll every now and then. It’s a gamble after all, folks! Yet did you know there are a few tips and tricks that can balance the scales so that you win more and bust less?

This is where the Thunderbolt Casino “Cheat Sheet” comes in. Now, before you get too excited, there is no actual cheating involved! In fact, you’ll have a hard time cheating at our super secure casino. These are tips and tricks that you can incorporate into your gameplay to stay flush with money!

Read more: The Thunderbolt Casino Cheat Sheet – 6 Top Tips to Win!

A male hand pointing towards an orange bank card on a dark background

The Bonus Buy component in online casino slots is nothing short of awesome. It allows you to trigger the primary bonus round in the game in exchange for a small fee. Yippee! The question is, how do you use the feature to your best advantage? Thunderbolt Casino explores!

Read more: Best Bonus Buy Tactics for Online Casino Slots

A cute pug sitting on a pile of glittering gold coins

You should never miss a beat when it comes to checking in on your inbox at our online casino South Africa. Bonuses and promotions are on rotation, and in some cases, they’re refreshed daily! One unique offer that has us going ‘ag cute!’! Keep reading if you want to know more…

Read more: Celebrating Our Pets with the Purrfect Bonus!

We often feature new slots as they drop here at our casino online – but what about other game genres, like table games or even video poker? How about check… and check! That’s right. You might have overlooked two relatively recent additions that fit squarely into these categories at Thunderbolt Casino.

Read more: What’s on the Cards at Thunderbolt Casino Online?

A vector image of a man holding a giant golden key in one hand, leaming against a huge open padlock with the other hand.

What is the secret behind the #1 ZAR casino login? It allows unrestricted access to Thunderbolt Casino. What that means is you and I can feast on the best – the best online casino games, the biggest bonuses and the most attentive customer support services.

Read more: Use Thunderbolt’s ZAR Casino Login to Unlock the Top 2 New Slots

An image of the word jackpot with playing cards and gold coins on a dark background

Every South African dreams about winning the lotto… Whether it’s the National Lottery or the Power Ball, millions across the nation eagerly await the results of the draws in the hopes of striking it lucky one day. Instead of hoping and dreaming, we have a better option – and that is to play progressives at our jackpot casino!

Our progressive jackpot casino isn’t content with 60 odd million South Africans. Instead, our games are network-linked with other SpinLogic casinos, which does mean thousands are gunning for the same pot, but… there’s a ‘but’.

Unlike playing the National Lottery or Powerball where you have to precisely match the six or so numbers in the draw for a shot at retirement, most of the progressives at our jackpot casino for South Africa are triggered randomly. This might sound like a negative – but hey, do you know what the odds are of winning the lotto?  So let's read on and get the scoop on how best to play jackpot casino games....

Read more: Thunderbolt Jackpot Casino: Progressive Pots with Decent Odds!

A black 3 reel slot barrel with a golden lever and a Bitcoin symbol on the middle reel against a dark background

Cryptocurrencies are becoming more and more popular as a way of making online payments, especially at online casinos. If you are looking for a South African online casino that accepts cryptocurrencies, look no further than Thunderbolt Casino!

We offer both Bitcoin and Lightning Bitcoin as payment options, giving you the flexibility and convenience of using digital currencies. In this article, we will explain what Bitcoin and Lightning Bitcoin are, how they work, and why they are so popular at our South African online casino.

Read more: Thunderbolt South African Online Casino: Bitcoin Banking

A small laughing Buddha statue with gold coins on golden background

South Africans right across the nation are feeling the sting of the icy cold winter… Joburgers even woke up to snow. Yoh! How do we respond at Thunderbolt Online Casino? We are giving our players a couple of lekker deals throughout the month to stay cosy and warm!

Read more: Get Set for Winter with Prosperous July Slots Promos!

An image of four cubes spelling ‘ZAR’ with the last cube wrapped in the South African flag on a white background

If you are looking for a ZAR casino that offers a wide range of safe, secure, and convenient banking options – look no further than Thunderbolt Casino! Thunderbolt Casino is a South African online casino that caters to the needs of local players. Whether you want to deposit or withdraw funds, you will find a suitable payment processor to transact in rands.

Keep reading as we explore the different banking options available at Thunderbolt – and how you can use them to enjoy your favourite online casino games in ZAR!

Read more: SA-Friendly Banking Options at Thunderbolt ZAR Casino

An image of the year ‘2023’ and a ‘loading’ bar in pixelated text on a purple background

The gaming sector is one of the most dynamic and innovative industries in the world. It’s constantly evolving and adapting to new trends and technologies. In 2023, one of the most prominent trends is the rise of online casino games, which are attracting more players at Thunderbolt Casino than ever before!

In this article, we will explore how playing casino games is dominating the gaming sector in 2023, and why you should join the Thunderbolt Casino community – the best online casino in South Africa!

Read more: How Playing Casino Games is Dominating the Gaming Sector in 2023

A photo of a woman on a couch in fluffy socks under a blanket with a mobile phone in hand and a fireplace in the background

Things are starting to cool down weather-wise and that unmistakable winter chill is setting in.  How can we warm things up a bit and help you make it through the icy days and nights?  At Thunderbolt Online South Africa Casino, we’d like to introduce you to three low volatility slots that promise to deliver red-hot wins!

Read more: Hot Slots to Warm You Up at Our Online South Africa Casino This Winter!

A blue speech bubble with the words 'No Deposit Required!' in quotes, isolated on a white background

LOGIN

SIGN UP

LOG IN to your Thunderbolt Casino account and win now. 

SIGN UP at Thunderbolt Casino today, for an exclusive R10,000 Welcome bonus package. 

Every slots lover’s hope is to somehow end up with a treasure trove of complimentary spins to back their gameplay on the house.  It’s the stuff dreams are made of!  Imagine spinning away, at no cost to you, and striking it lucky…

Wake up, South Africa!  This isn’t a dream.  At Thunderbolt Casino, free spins with no deposit are an actual reality!  We’re going to explore some of the ways in which you can use our bonuses and promotional offers to ensure that you get plenty of casino free spins out of the deal.

Read more: Is There a Free Spins with No Deposit in Your Future at Thunderbolt Casino?

A photo of a stressed out man holding his smartphone sitting at a black table with a blurred out background

Are you feeling the pressure of live mobile casino gaming?  With lightning-fast gameplay and limited time to make decisions, live gaming can often end up feeling frustrating, instead of fun...

Yet, fear not!  Thunderbolt Casino for South Africans offers a stress-free alternative to live casino gaming.

In this article, we'll explore the differences between live and mobile casino gaming and why choosing Thunderbolt online casino South Africa for mobile games gambling can help you keep your blood pressure in check!

Read more: Is Live Mobile Casino Gaming Causing Players Unnecessary Stress?

Green goblin lying down waving to us

The Thunderbolt online casino offers a new imaginative online slot that combines mythical troublemaking creatures and their antics with real money prizes.

Read more: Play the Goblins: Gluttony of Gems Online Slot Machine at Thunderbolt Casino!

man and woman playing games on their mobile devices rejoicing over online casino real money wins

South African gamers who want to enjoy casino entertainment without traveling to remote sites can now play online at any time and from any location on their PC or mobile gaming screen.

Read more: Your BEST Online Casino for South Africa

a gamer playing at an online casino screen on his laptop, holding casino chips

ZAR casinos (Thunderbolt at the top of the list - wink, wink) allow casual gamers and dedicated players to enjoy the opportunity to play and interact in a convenient atmosphere of light-hearted fun and real-money prizes. Not only does the online casino feature multiple game, it gives users a chance to choose from many different types of games.

Read more: How Can You Play Safely and Securely at the Online Casino?

flag of the Philippines embedded in a map showing the Philippines’ outline

Philippines’ president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr has indicated that, for the time being, he will follow his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s lead in allowing the country’s retail casino and online casino industry to move forward cautiously.

Read more: How Has the Philippine’s Recent Change in Government Affected the Country’s Gaming Industry?

South African rand in different denominations

South African gamers can now play any of their favorite casino games with real money using South African currency as their preferred wagering option. The online casino for South Africa, Thunderbolt, invites SA gamers to make their bets and withdraw their winnings in their home currency which enables them to use their winning payouts for any preferred future purchases of goods or services.

Read more: Playing Online For Real Money With South African Rand

fingers holding puzzle pieces up to the light

Puzzle games as fun activities that are good tools to help us all build cognitive skills and raise IQ. Puzzles are good for people of all ages. They help reinforce existing connectors between our brain cells and build new connectors. In addition to training and expanding cognitive skills, puzzle games help improve small motor skills and stimulate creativity. Puzzles have been shown to help people improve their short-term memory and increase IQs by as much as 4 points (University of Michigan, 2011).

Read more: What are the Best Digital Puzzle Games?

Australia’s Gold Coast

Well, thank goodness that we in South Africa do not have these worries.  We are free to enjoy our Thunderbolt online casino fun as much as we want with no laws looming over our heads or politicians making laws about something they know nothing about.  But...our friends in Australia are not so lucky.  Let's look at what's going on in AU - and encourage our Aussie friends to come to Thunderbolt.  Read on....

Read more: Will Australia Reform their Gambling Laws in 2023?

Macau Skyline

By signing new concession agreements Macau’s government, and by extension, the mainland Chinese government, are signaling their confidence and support of Macau’s casino industry.  Over the past few years, the Asian casino industry has been rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese clampdown on junket operators who ferried Chinese gamblers to and from Pacific casino destinations and questions about the Beijing rulers’ policies on online casino gambling in China - where they, unfortunately, cannot use their Thunderbolt casino coupons.

Read more: Macau’s Government Promotes Stability

Tokyo Skyline

When then-Prime Minister Abe Shinto’s government succeeded in passing the IR Implementation Act in 2018, there was great excitement about the future opportunities that such a move would have for the country.

At the time, the Macau casinos were doing record-breaking business, Chinese junkets were bringing VIPs to a number of Asian and Pacific locations to gamble  and the expectations that Integrated Resorts could help Japan’s economy expand were high.

Read more: Will Japan Have a Casino Industry?

Cards and casino chips

Today we take a break from the pure fun of our Thunderbolt Casino coupons and look at a distant corner of the world and what's going on there in the gaming sector.

According to a report by investigators, China's anti-corruption campaign is affecting Macau’s VIP segment which has taken a big hit from the mainland’s attempts to limit the numbers of VIP gamers and the amount that they can gamble at the casinos. The report notes that the baccarat tables have seen the largest drop while  other areas of the hub's gambling industry remains mostly unaffected.

Read more: How is China’s Anti-Corruption Crackdown Affecting Macau

 Australian bills fanned out to show the different denominations

Well, here's a story that has nothing to do with our South African Thunderbolt online casino gaming (!!!), but we'd like to report on it because we feel it's significan for all of us to know what's going on in our "neighboring countries" vis-a-vis gaming.

Read more: Will Australia Adopt Cashless Gambling?

Chinese woman gamer with headphones on looking bewildered into the camera

For years, the Chinese government has been indicating that it plans to clamp down hard on the gaming industry which it sees as a possible threat to its authority over its citizens. Video gaming companies, online casino players (like our Thunderbolt casino coupons play), esports players, casual gamers are being forced to kowtow to the government’s demands in order to continue to have access to the huge Chinese gaming market.

Read more: Why is the Chinese Government Clamping Down on the Gaming Industry?

Young Malaysians hanging out in a coffee shop together

The Asian gaming industry is being spearheaded by studios and esports teams in India, China, Korea and Japan but the industry is moving forward quickly in  other countries as well.  Malaysia is now becoming a gaming hub where the market growth is focused on competitive gaming - less so on individual gaming like Thunderbolt online casino.

Read more: Why is Malaysia Asia’s Fastest-Growing Gaming Industry?

Bangkok skyline

The once-thriving tourist economy in Thailand came close to being devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 Thailand’s GDP fell by 6.1%, largely due to the financial crisis created by the almost complete demise of the tourism sector which accounts for 20% of employment and a fifth of GDP in Thailand. Now, Thai officials are considering legalizing retail and gambling in the country as they look ahead to the new possibilities for international travel.  Get your Thunderbolt casino coupons update right here.

Read more: Casino Gaming Being Considered in Thailand

African gamer with earphones

Pre-COVID, most African gamers played video games and Thunderbolt online casino games on PCs at cyber cafes or in gaming centers. Just a few short years onward, the majority of gamers in Africa are playing on their smartphones. There are more areas of the content that now have Internet access, more devices are available and a larger percentage of the population has become mobile-savvy.

Read more: What are the Most Exciting Gaming StartUps Coming Out of Africa?

Indian man playing computer games

Despite legal uncertainties, India’s gaming industry is booming. More and more states are legalizing fantasy sports and online casinos like Thunderbolt casino coupons gaming is acknowledged by the authorities in a number of jurisdictions.

Read more: What are the Most Significant Gaming Trends in India Today?

treasure boxes

The UK government is showing itself unwilling to take on the proliferation of loot boxes within the video game industry. Activists are keeping the pressure on but it’s unlikely that there will be any change until after the next election.

Loot boxes, unlike gaming at the Thunderbolt online casino and other online casino sites, aren’t betting as such. But critics claim that loot boxes cause people to lose money because they buy the box hoping that there’s something valuable inside that will help them move forward with their game quests – however, the boxes don’t always yield what they want and need which causes them to lay out MORE money for more loot box purchases.

Read more: UK Government Not Ready to Confront the Gaming Industry’s Loot Boxes

cryptocurrency exchange board

Online casinos draw and retain players by trying to provide the easiest, most interactive and user-friendly casino experience possible. That means that they make every effort to feature top games, rewarding bonuses and convenient payment methods.

eBanking with Thunderbolt casino coupons and other Internet-based casinos has evolved significantly in the 30 years of online casino entertainment. Technological innovations, safety measures and rules and regulations have changed over the years to make it easier for gamers to play for real money prizes. Top online casinos try interface with as many different types of online banking options as possible – credit and debit cards, wire transfer services, ewallet and evoucher institutions and others.

Online casinos that don’t adapt to new trends don’t stay in business for long. That is especially true in regards to the new cryptocurrency payment options which have become increasingly popular over the last 10 years. Even though crypto is relatively new, it’s dominating many parts of the world’s economy and is being used by numerous industries as their primary method of facilitating financial transactions.

Will crypto become dominant in the world of online casino gaming? Some analysts believe that it’s only a matter of time.

Read more: Future of Payment Methods for Casino Gaming

illustration of people standing on map of South America

Gaming industry analysts say that igaming companies should consider targeting South America for new businesses.  While the South African online gaming business is already huge with our very own, Thunderbolt online casino, South America has the most promising new emerging market for online gaming in the world with mobile gaming being particularly popular. Latin American players are particularly fond of gaming machines such as slots and bingo which makes South America an tempting investment opportunity for gaming operators. The companies, however, are faced with a myriad of differing regulations that complicate their entrance into the South American market.

Read more: Is South America the New Frontier for Online Casino Gaming?

Mobile gamer smiling at the camera

The South Asian/Pacific region’s gaming market is one of the fastest growing gaming markets in the world and may soon hold the gaming industry’s largest market share. When compared to other expanding markets, India’s growth rates is one of the largest in the world with the esports sector accounting for a large percentage of that market.  So let's put our Thunderbolt casino coupons aside for a few minutes and explore this interesting new area.

Read more: How is Content Creation in Gaming Expanding in India?

Japanese street

Japan has some of the most stringent gambling laws. Besides the iconic Japanese pachinko which is played in pachinko halls, there is currently no casino gaming, Thunderbolt online casino betting or any other type of legal wagering infrastructure in Japan.

Read more: Will Japan Legalize Sports Betting?

person holding a tablet with a digital picture of a padlock indicating online security, with coffee and a roll in the background

Since 2018, gaming operators and other online businesses and operating in the EU have been obligated to demonstrate compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. The Thunderbolt online casino has been carefully studying analyzing how the GDPR is helping players enjoy a safer and more enjoyable Thunderbolt casino coupons online casino experience.

Read more: How Successful has the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation Been in Ensuring Used Privacy?

The words BIG TECH written in white on the background of a stocks and securities board

The EU has adopted new rules that will limit the market power of big online platforms like Apple and Google and the effects of those rules will be felt worldwide.

Read more: How Will the New Digital Markets Act Affect Big Tech?

Asian woman with a tablet set for gambling

The gambling industry is shifting online. Despite new casinos being built around the world, most gamblers are either playing online either full-time or part-time in between trips to land-based casinos. The shift has become more pronounced in recent years especially among Asian players who prefer online casinos like the Thunderbolt online casino where  Thunderbolt casino coupons accept crypto transactions.

Read more: How is Gambling Shifting in Asia?

night view of Macau landscape

Macau authorities have extended licenses of Macau casinos for another six months to provide stability as the territory readies new gambling laws. There are six casino resorts on Macau and their licenses were set to expire on June 26th. The government has notified the operators that they can apply for extensions of their licenses until the end of December to allow them to continue their activities as the government prepares its new regulations for land-based and online operations like Thunderbolt casino coupons.

Read more: Why is Macau Changing its Gambling Law?

Melbourne skyline

Australia has thriving online casino and land-based casino industries but its largest operator has been on shaky ground for the last two years as the Australian government investigates irregularities in casino operations. After much speculation, an independent government inquiry has determined that the Crown casino will be able to keep its license while it cleans house.

Read more: Will the Crown Casino Continue to Operate?

Tokyo skyline

Four years ago, following the vote of the Japanese parliament to allow casino operators to build casino-resorts in Japan, fierce competition started among operators and Japanese cities, all of whom were vying for a place at the multi-billion dollar IR table. Today, most of the major players have decided that they aren’t interested in building while a large proportion of Japanese citizens – and their municipalities -- are largely unreceptive to the idea of granting Thunderbolt casino coupons and hosting other casino venues in their regions.

Read more: What’s Happening with the Japanese IR Industry?

people playing table football

Gambling laws differ vastly from one country to the next. In many areas of the world, the gambling laws of 2022 have been influenced by hundreds of years of gambling culture that have led up to today’s guidelines. What are some of the cultural norms regarding gambling that are impacting on real money gaming today?

Read more: How Does Gaming and Gambling Differ in Varying Cultures Around the World?

young entrepreneur in her office

Gaming aficionados around the world are channeling their enthusiasm into the business world with new start-ups that focus on gaming design, development, publishing, marketing, influencing, organizing and more for online casinos and for video games.   During this month of love the Thunderbolt casino is encouraging these efforts with a look at some of the most creative and innovative start-ups coming out of Africa.

Read more: What are Africa’s Best New Start-Ups?

man playing online casino games on tablet

The online gaming industry has had a tumultuous year worldwide. Governments have enacted new gaming laws, game design companies in Asia are under scrutiny, court cases have muddied the waters of what is and isn’t allowed and the video gaming industry is crossing lines to attract online casino enthusiasts to their console games.

Read more: When Will Change Come to the Online Casio Gaming Industry in India?

Woman excitedly playing at a casino slot machine

Just when you thought you were already hopelessly in love with Thunderbolt , we come along with some dreamy valentine's day specials and make you fall just a little more...

Read more: Will Macau Junkets Continue to Operate?

Casino analysts have been watching the market swing upward during the COVID-19 era as more people turn to online gaming for relaxation and entertainment. At the same time, as the newest Thunderbolt Casino coupons are issued, many governments are passing new laws to keep casino players safer and increase protections against improper advertising and unlicensed online banking institutions.

Read more: How Can Online Casinos Increase Efficiency and Give Better Service? New Guidelines and...

a hand using a mobile phone with icons of social channels floating around

From the early days of social media, it was clear that social media platforms are the perfect place for people to engage in gaming activities. It’s an interactive platform that allows people to connect and communicate, share their successes and commiserate over their losses.

Read more: How Did Israel Become a World Leader in Social Gaming?

Olympic competitor in a running race with cyber graphics around him.

Video game enthusiasts and online casino games enthusiasts have been advocating for the International Olympic Committee to include esports as a recognized Olympic competition.  The IOC is wary but for the first time, the International Olympic Committee hosted an esports competition -- as a run-up to the main Olympic events – this summer.

Read more: When Will eSports Become a Featured Olympics Sport?

Indian sports fans

India’s complex gaming laws, which vary from one state to the next, are slowly evolving to include online casino games betting on fantasy sports.

Read more: How are Fantasy Sports Evolving in India?

Melbourne skyline

The Crown Casino is asking the Royal Commission -- which is currently investigating Crown’s breaches of numerous laws and regulations relating to its operations -- to be allowed to keep its license and continue to run its Melbourne casino. Commission head Ray Finkelstein accepted submissions from the company’s counsel, Michael Borsky QC who explained why the company believes that it can operate in a trustworthy manner and should be allowed to keep its license.

Read more: Crown Casino Attempts to Continue Operations

Asian game developer working at his laptop

As the number of video players and online casino gamers increases worldwide, Chinese government involvement in content creation in the video gaming sector is raising questions including whether the Chinese government will try to use the games to promote their ideology.

Read more: How Does China Influence Game Design?

Asian esports player

Esports now a major industry in Asia with a +20.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) forecast through 2024. The industry is expected to reach US $72.5 million in 2024, nearly double the CAGR of +11.1% for the global sector.

Read more: What’s Happening in the World of Asian eSports?

Tokyo skyline

Legislation that will set the regulatory standards for the new industry is taking effect. Setting in place these rules and regulations will allow bidding for the 4 available licenses to begin this fall.

Read more: When Will Casino Gambling Come to Japan?

a woman athlete jumping a hurdle

Fandom in China is taking new turns as nationalistic Chinese leash a campaign of online harassment on their own athletes for losing and on other countries’ athletes for winning.

Read more: How is Online Harassment Changing the Olympics?

man playing casino games on a laptop

LOGIN

SIGN UP

LOG IN to your Thunderbolt Casino account and win now. 

SIGN UP at Thunderbolt Casino today, for an exclusive R10,000 Welcome bonus package. 

Start your Thunderbolt Casino South Africa gaming adventure and go Thunderbolt login right NOW. It's all about winning online entertainment thrills at Thunderbolt Login Casino!

Read more: Login to Thunderbolt Casino NOW!

German Parliament and flag

New German  legislation, the Interstate Treaty on Gambling, could relax Germany’s gambling laws and transform the industry for German bettors and gamers. In recent years, critics of Germany’s tough gambling laws have been seeking ways to make casino games and other types of betting available to all residents of the country.

Read more: How Will ISTG 21 Change Gambling in Germany?

Woman's hand holding a Gold medal high in the air

The Tokyo Olympics, originally scheduled for 2020, are to take place July 23 – August 8 2021 despite pandemic restrictions, variants, mutations, vaccination controversies and other upheavals caused by the COVID-19 virus. NBC is, once again, preparing to serve as the largest media organization covering the Olympics, a position that it has held for the Summer Olympics since 1988 and for the Winter Olympics since 2002.

Read more: How COVID-19 Impact on the Olympics?

Chinese currency

While the last year has not really affected our online casino South Africa, Thunderbolt, it has had an extreme effect on land casino operators.

Read more: Macau Prepares as China Readies New Digital Currency for Launch

baccarat dealer arranging the chips on a baccarat table

Visit any casino in the East and you’ll find that the baccarat tables are the most plentiful and the most crowded. Any land-based or online casino that caters to Asian gamers highlights their baccarat games and many high rollers from Eastern countries never even try any other game other than baccarat.  Online casino players that gamble from home inevitably choose the virtual online baccarat tables.

Read more: Play Baccarat Online

the entrance of Crown Casino of Australia

The Royal Commission investigating Australia’s Crown has heard testimony that reinforces criticism that the casino acted with impunity in evading passport controls when bringing Chinese VIP gamblers into the country and ignoring money laundering activities taking place in the land-based and online casino.

Read more: Crown Casino Facing More Pressure

Japanese Flag

In April, Japan’s Casino Regulatory Commission presented a draft of intended enforcement regulations for public consultation, the next step on getting casinos up and running in the country. The draft of regulations was presented to the public and observers say that they are tough but fair and consistent with accepted practices among gambling countries around the world.

Read more: Japan’s Casino Industry Development

young Chinese woman plays video games

New research shows that the number of women playing casino online games and video games in Asia, both professionally and on an amateur level, is rising more rapidly than the numbers of new male gamers. Across all of Asia’s key markets including China, Japan and India more women than men are getting involved in the industry.

Read more: Rising Numbers of Female Casino Players in Asia

a name sticker saying "Hello, I play Daily Fantasy Sports"

Fantasy sports casino games has been a pastime for sports fans in the United States for almost a decade. Most players prefer to play fantasy football based on the American football model. Now, several fantasy sites have opened for South African gamers to give South African sports fans the platforms that allow them to build their own fantasy teams and bet on the outcomes of matches based on the performances of real life players.

Read more: Fantasy Casino Games Sports Site Launches

a cocktail glass with dice and a casino chip inside making it look like a cocktail

Macau’s retail and online casino games casino economy seems to finally be enjoying some bright news as its March GGR hit MOP$8.31 billion (US$1.04 billion). This was up 13.6% over the previous month (February’s GGR was $7.31 billion MOP) and demonstrates momentum thanks to the territory’s highest monthly intake since January 2020.

Read more: The Comeback of Macau’s Casinos

computer keyboard with e-sports written on the enter button

The question of whether South Korea esports teams dominate the online casino South Africa esports field is questionable but there’s no doubt that the number of top quality esports players that originate in South Korea is among the highest in the world. eSports has become a billion-dollar industry and it’s clear that South Korea is at its epicenter.

Read more: Why Does South Korea Generate So Many eSports Players?

growth chart in red showing off the chart growth

Huang Yiment is China’s newest billionaire after his indie game distributor XD shot up 24% on the first trading day of 2021. His company’s meteoritic rise came about as a result of the ongoing dispute between app developers and distributer giants who swallow huge cuts of the income that they take in revenue split with the content publishers.

Read more: New Online Casino Gaming Platform in China

Philippines flag with a paper cutout of the Manila cityscape

China’s new travel restrictions have raised concern within the Philippines gambling industry. Yet the new retail and online casino gaming venues are moving forward. The country has introduced a number of new changes which, the government hopes, will push continued sector growth while clarifying regulations.

Read more: Philippines Gambling Industry Sees Growth and Changes

woman gamer with headphones on holding a gaming console

Female video gamers are closing the gap between them and their male counterparts throughout Asia. Across all of Asia’s key markets, including India, Japan and China, the casino playing field is being leveled as the percentage of female casino players rises as compared to male players.

Read more: Female Gamers on the Rise

Vancouver BC Canada skyline

The public inquiry into money laundering at British Columbia casinos is continuing but it seems that the more questions that are answered, the more there are to ask. Last year, undercover investigations regarding casino online games and retail casino gaming resulted in BC casinos being accused of facilitating money laundering for Asian drug gangs whose members.

Read more: Investigations into Money Laundering at BC Casinos

drawing of a kangaroo with two little kangaroos each looking at a phone or tablet

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom and Australia are proposing to restrict online casino games in ways that will make it safer for their citizens. The proposals aim to reduce gambling while ensuring that operators are clear in what they present to their customers.

Read more: New Australian and UK Laws for Online Casino Games

young man looking at his phone cheering over a win

Sports gambling has been a controversial subject in Canada for many years but it is now on the verge of being legalized. The change which will allow Canadians to add online casino games wagering on single events to the already-legal parlay sports bets.

Read more: Online Casino Games Sports Betting Going to Canada

a gamer playing fantasy soccer with a real soccer player on a fantasy football field

India’s relationship with gambling has never been as smooth as that of the online casino South Africa. In some states the gambling laws are left over from the days of British rule while in others, modernizations have included updated online gambling laws. One area of particular controversy involves regulations that cover online gambling including the new and popular fantasy sports competitions.

Read more: India’s Relationship with Fantasy Sports

professional gamer playing and winning

Online Casino eSports in Asia was recently rocked by news that a Chinese team had been caught in a match-fixing scandal even as the community was enjoying congratulations for being upgraded to a medal event for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Read more: eSports Glows in Global Recognition Amidst Match-Fixing Scandal

icon that says Live Streaming with a forward sign

While online casinos - like our very own Thunderbolt Casino - are not "the" thing among gaming streamers, the live streaming gaming community in Africa is starting to draw notice from observers from around the world.  Africa’s top video gamers are competing at the highest levels in almost all world tournaments. Some of the top African gaming streamers include:

Read more: Top Game Streamers in Africa

map with a pin stuck in Macau

After a year of unprecedented losses the Macau casino industry, the Macau authorities and the Chinese government are facing questions about how the huge casino industry on Macau can move forward.  Macau, which was once a Portuguese colony, is now a semi-autonomous Chinese territory and decisions made regarding the multi-billion dollar casino industryon Macau are made with Beijing’s involvement.

Read more: Macau Casino Industry

close up of a roulette wheel with the ball in 34 red

As we move into the third decade of the 21st century it can be overwhelming to look back at all the changes that have taken place over the last 50 years.  Sometimes it seems as though we don’t notice the vast transformations – concepts like the Internet, artificial intelligence, mobile devices, etc. These things, which we couldn’t have even imagined in the recent past, are now part of our day-to-day lives. Yet only a few short decades ago they were unknown. 

Read more: Staying-Power of Roulette Games Online Casino

map of New Zealand with a stick pin in Auckland

New Zealand may be a late-comer to the world of esports casino games but it is making up for lost time. This year the country’s official governing body for sports in New Zealand, Sports New Zealand, welcomed New Zealand esports Federation (NZESF) as New Zealand’s official representative in world esports competitions. 

Read more: New Zealand eSports

Kenya’s gaming regulator battling SportsPesa

The Kenyan betting regulator has gotten its teeth into SportPesa online casino games provider and it’s not letting go. The gambling regulator has been looking at financial revelations that, they say, indicate financial irregularities within SportPesa, a gaming company that provides technology solutions for gaming market. Now, the BCLB says, SportsPesa is attempting to resume operations in Kenya by lending its brand to Milestone -- which also happens to be owned by the same Ronald Karauri who owns SportsPesa.   

Read more: Kenyan Betting Regulator Focuses on SportPesa Online Casino Games Provider

a man and a woman each coming out of a laptop screen and shaking hands

As COVID-19 keeps people of all ages at home, often playing online casino South Africa video games to entertain themselves and stay busy, a new job description is emerging in China. Gaming companions are offering themselves for hire to teach, engage and help keep young gamers moving forward as they play online games from their homes.

Read more: COVID Lockdown Breeds Gaming Companions for Young Chinese Gamers

Macau city skyline

The retail and online casino industry is a billion-dollar industry worldwide. While most of the media attention has been focused on Vegas during the pandemic, Macau, also a major center of casino entertainment, has been coping with an unstable landscape on multiple fronts. In many ways, the Macau casino industry is coping with an even more unsteady forecast than is Vegas.

Read more: Landscape Changing for Macau Casinos

blue globe of the world

For much of human history, gambling has been an accepted fact of life. Governments, however, did not always legalize gambling and over the last century most countries have either banned, legalized or created some kind of in-between situation to regulate gambling activity in their country.

Read more: Comparisons of Retail Casino and Online Casino Gambling Laws

friends playing online casino games on their phones

South African casino operators have come to the conclusion that the time has come to offer their games via an online platform. Sun International and Tsogo, two of South Africa’s biggest casino operators, have been lobbying the government to legislate gaming via the Internet so that people can gamble on their home devices.

Read more: South African Real Casinos Lobby to Open Up Online Gambling

Chinese flag flying on a flagpole with the sky and clouds in the background

China is trying to clamp down on gamblers who play casino online games at offshore casinos and on junket tours to foreign gambling halls which drains  billions of dollars from the local economy every year.

Read more: China Tries to Embank Currency Leakage

woman sitting at a land-based casino slot machine

Crown Resorts, which was accused of illegally facilitating the illegal entry into Australia of Chinese high rollers who were coming to play high stakes casino games and possibly launder money, is facing disciplinary action by the Victoria Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. 

Read more: Crown Res Faces Disciplinary Action

map of India

India’s laws regarding online gaming are unclear. In today’s world, where online casino gaming and esports activities are soaring in popularity, an Indian court is warning that the lack of clarity is leading to a dangerous situation.

Read more: Indian Court Calls for Online Casino Regulations

Map with a map pin stuck in Japan

Thank goodness we don't have the worries the casino industry does in Japan, what was thought to be the up-and-coming casino valhalla.  As we happily play away at our mobile casino South Africa - Thunderbolt - let's take a look at what's going on further East.

Read more: Waning Interest Among Operators in Japan’s Casino Industry

bright colored lights lit up behind the keys on a computer keyboard

South African bettors haven’t been able to wager on in-house number games or soccer for the last six months. Now, many are turning to online casino electronic gaming and fantasy sports for gambling fun.

Read more: Online Casino Fantasy Sports Market Sees Big Growth in SA

cards, chips, and dice flying towards us

The government of Thailand is looking for ways to compensate for the tremendous losses in tourism that the country has suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Thailand has eschewed legal gambling of any kind for decades but now, in the face of a looming economic disaster, legislators are considering making both brick-and-mortar casino gambling and online casino gaming legal.

Read more: Thailand Government Considering Legalization of Land-Based Casino Venues and iCasinos

Adults Only symbol red circle with +18 written inside

When cameras caught a 12-year-old girl playing slots at an Australian casino, debate was reignited over how minors can be better protected from gambling. Minors are prohibited from gambling in almost every country in the world but the level of enforcement of those laws varies from one country to the next.

Read more: How the Online Casino Protect Minors?

three friends meeting for coffee looking at Thunderbolt Casino's new mobile casino

Thunderbolt Casino is excited to announce our new mobile lobby that gives gamers a more intuitive and user-friendly gaming experience. Mobile gamers can now click on the features that they need directly on their smartphone or tablet screen and access the relevant pages – games, banking, current bonus offers and more – within seconds.

Read more: South Africa's Thunderbolt Casino Unveils Intuitive Mobile Casino Lobby

close-up of the grass of a sports field

Fantasy sports casino games have become an increasingly popular form of entertainment in many countries. Australians have only recently begun to play fantasy sports but the pastime is quickly becoming popular Down Under where players find that they can become active participants in the progress of their favorite sporting events.

Read more: Fantasy Sports in Australia

people at a roulette table full of chips

Africa was hard hit by the coronavirus and most countries imposed severe lockdowns. Many countries in Africa are still under lockdown orders but some countries are slowly reopening their economies with casino visitation considered to be an important element of that reopening.

Read more: Four African Countries Where Casinos are Reopening

3-D map of Africa on a cell phone

Africa is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing and most lucrative online gambling markets. Gambling has always been popular in Africa and  recently, increasing numbers of people in all areas of the continent have chosen to take their gaming entertainment online. The online casino South Africa industry is surging and gaming companies are taking notice.

Read more: Big Gains for Online Casino SA Industry Throughout Africa

image showing all the different games at an online casino in the phone

The online casino gaming sector in India continues to grow and evolve. It has emerged as a significant component of the country’s mainstream entertainment industry. Especially noteworthy is that this is the only sector of the entertainment industry that is operating during COVID-19.

Read more: Indian Investors Turn to Online Gaming Industry

female gamer winning playing on her computer

According to recent research, the number of female video games players is growing at a faster rate than their male rivals, especially in Asia. Throughout the big online casino gaming markets, women are leveling the playing field in the world of video gaming. Rohini Bhushan, an analyst at Google Asia Pacific says, "Among the millions of gamers joining the ranks every year, females have been a huge catalyst for growth." 

Read more: More and More Female Gamers in Online Casino eGaming and eSports

hands playing on a keyboard

As casino egaming becomes increasingly popular, a number of European legislatures are considering how to best facilitate safe gaming policies for their citizens. Some of the pioneers in introducing such new gaming laws include German, the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands but other European countries are watching the innovators as they consider the future of online gaming in their own countries.

Read more: New Regulations for Online Casino Gaming in Europe

Philippines flag

Manila is trying to come to terms with the proper place of offshore casino online games operations in the country as abuses of Chinese workers comes to light, violence increases and relations with China suffer. 

Read more: Manila Struggling to Balance Economic Needs with Relations With China Over Online Casino Games

map of Africa with tribal patterns

The pace of diversification in the gaming world is moving quickly, and nowhere more quickly than in Africa. Gaming operators who had not even considered online casino games activity or esports involvement are now investing heavily in those sectors in an effort to keep bettors happy with online wagering alternatives.

Read more: Casino Online Games Advances Coming from Africa

woman standing outside a land-based casino playing online casino games on her phone.

Some land-based casinos are coming to the conclusion that, in order to survive, they’ll need to diversify and create an online presence where they can offer online casino games. The move is being pioneered by the WinPrincess casino in Tanzania which is planning to partner with iGaming platform provider BtoBet so that it can incorporate a digital platform to its retail business strategy.

Read more: Brick-and-Mortar Casinos Offering Online Games

an emblem of Fantasy Soccer showing a soccer ball on a field with stadium lights

The Oulala Fantasy Football operator is expanding to the online casino South Africa and globally, opening up new partnerships in Africa and India.  Interest in fantasy sports is growing in those two regions and Oulala is anticipating getting in on the ground floor of fantasy sports in those regions.   

Read more: Oulala Fantasy Football Expands into India and Africa

colourful map of Africa showing animals native to Africa

The online casino eSports industry –- gaming events which are organized and broadcast to fans worldwide -- has been growing in popularity over the last few months. eSports are extremely popular in North America, Europe and the Pacific and esports competitions are starting to take hold in South America. The last continent to jump on the esports bandwagon is Africa but now South Africa is leading the region into a more participatory role in the esports world.

Read more: Africa to Become New Online eSports Casino Center

young woman playing esports on her computer screen

Video game competitions, once the realm of gaming geeks, is now mainstream, thanks to online casino sports fans’ search for gaming competition that will allow them to enjoy the same thrills and excitements that they had once enjoyed via mainstream sporting event.

Read more: Sports Fans Turning to Online Casino eSports

silhouette of hands holding up NZ flag in the sunset

New Zealanders are avid gambling enthusiasts. Currently, online casino gaming is loosely regulated in New Zealand but the government is currently exploring if and how to lay down guidelines for online casino gambling. The government has launched a public consultations with the goal of testing public support for regulating the online casino industry.

Read more: NZ Government Explores Ways to Regulate Online Casinos

an African looking woman shouting for join in front of a flag of South Africa

South Africans are known to be avid sports fans. Typical sports betting action in South Africa includes wagers on cricket, rugby, soccer, horse racing and many other types of sporting events. Since March, sports betting has been shut down around the world as almost every type of sporting event is either cancelled or postponed until, at the earliest, August.  In South Africa, sports enthusiasts are starting to take note of other type of online casino South Africa sports betting that is thriving including esports and simulated sports.

Read more: eSports Online Casino and Sports Betting

silhouette of Macau skyline with the words Macau Welcome

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, before the world realized what was about to unfold, the only region that was seeing big closures was the Far East. The virus developed in China in December 2019 and by February, other Asian countries were beginning to institute closures and lockdowns. Macau officials asked the operators of the territory’s big casinos to close for 2 weeks in order to contain the virus and they complied. 

Read more: Recovery Period Starts for Macau Casino Center

a couple of tourists carrying shopping bags

As difficult as it is to imagine, there will be a post-Covid-19 world; a world where international travel is no longer off limits and hotels are overflowing with a steady influx of visitors.

Read more: Best Cities for a Post-Covid-19 Shopping Spree

baccarat table with a hand stacking chips

Any casino that caters to Asian punters knows that the preferred casino games among players from the region is baccarat.  Casinos and other gambling venues in the East have more than the usual number of baccarat tables in their casinos, including high-roller tables for the Chinese VIPS who won’t play anything but baccarat. 

Read more: Asian Casino Players Prefer Baccarat Games

currency symbols floating around in cyberspace with a hand catching them

The Flexepin payment option delivers an easily-accessible and user-friendly online casino games payment option that allows you to deposit money safely and quickly into your casino account. Your deposits cover your casino payments so you can then withdraw your payouts at your leisure.

Read more: Flexepin Online Casino Payment Method

the logo of the Invictus Games Foundation

The idea of self-mastery expressed in the William Ernest Henley’s 1875 Invictus poem engaged South African rugby enthusiasts in 1995 and continues to captivate online casino South Africa enthusiasts today. The World Rugby Cup of 1995 came to be called the “Invictus Games.” Now, thanks to Prince Harry, that spirit of unity and cooperation continues to be played out on the world stage at the annual Invictus Games.

Read more: Inspiration and Unity

Sydney Australia skyline

The Crown Casino, which has been racked in recent months by allegations of improprieties regarding its relationships with Chinese junket operators, is now being hard hit by repercussions from the coronavirus scare which is preventing customers from visiting its casino properties. The combined blows have caused Australian gamers to turn to the online casino for their gaming entertainment. 

Read more: Tough Times for Crown Casino

hands working on a laptop with the South African flag on the screen

eSports is becoming increasingly popular in South Africa as professional gamers find it to be an easy way to make money. Some professional gamers turn to sponsorships and advertisement deals to earn their money but increasingly, others are playing online and participating in eSports tournaments.

Read more: Rise in eSports Online Casino Games in South Africa

illustration of Asian men wearing medical masks

Macau casinos were encouraged to close for 2 weeks to help control the coronavirus epidemic during the first 2 weeks of February. Now they're exploring their next steps as they prepare to move forward. The coronavirus shutdown has affected the territory’s casino games venues in different ways, with some casino operators expressing optimism while others share their concerns.

Read more: Recovery Begins after Macau Casino Shutdown

Macau skyline

Only a few weeks after news of the Coronavirus hit the world headlines, the fallout is being felt in many areas of the world, but nowhere more so than in and around China.  In a startling development, 41 Macau casinos have closed, draining the income for the entire region for a minimum of two weeks and sending local gamblers searching for accessible online casino games.

Read more: Macau Casinos Taking a Hit from the Corona

two people playing games on their mobile phone

First, there were land-based casinos. Then the casinos became available online for online gaming entertainment. Now there are online casino South Africa social casinos where people can enjoy quick, no-deposit entertainment on their phones or tablets.

Read more: SA Gamers Try Out Online Casino South Africa Social Casinos

facial recognition technology shown on a face

A wide range of institutions, businesses, airports and even governments have adopted the use of facial recognition technology during the past few years and industry analysts expect its use to expand widely in the coming decade.  Facial recognition technology is still considered controversial but that hasn’t stopped its spread.

Read more: New Zealand Casinos Adopt Facial Recognition

casino gaming floor

In preparation for the launch of its new casino industry, the Japanese government in contact with officials in Vegas to study how the City of Second Chances administers and regulates local and casino online games models.  

Read more: Japan Prepares for Casino Industry By Studying Vegas Casino Online Games and Land-Based Games Model

Japanese traditional building with cherry blossoms and Mt. Fuji in the distance

When the Japanese Parliament first approved the establishment of three Integrated Resorts/Casino Games venues in Japan, operators around the world fell over each other to get a head start on being awarded one of the casino licenses. A number of operators set up offices in various Japanese cities and began to woo municipal officials who would be deciding which operator would receive a license.

Read more: Are Casinos Rethinking Games Development in Japan?

Macau flag

Online casino games are now available at Macau’s MGM casino. MGM Macau officially launched four hand-held computer tablets and eight digital fixed terminals that are available to customers who are walking around the casino floor. These types of games have been available at casinos in Las Vegas for years but for Macau, which is under the authority of the anti-online-gaming regime in China, this is the first foray into the world of legal digital gaming.

Read more: Online Casino Debut in Macau

Vancouver skyline

British Columbia’s casinos are preparing for tougher scrutiny as the BC government splits the operational side of the province's gambling monopoly from its operational side. The BC regulator has been reviewing steps taken by the online casino South Africa to control money laundering issues at casino sites. 

Read more: New Gaming Regulator to Scrutinize British Columbia's Casinos Closely

Crown Casino logo

The Crown Casino has been rocked by allegations that for years, it flouted gambling and immigration laws in an effort to cater to the needs of its high-rolling customers. In the wake of the allegations the Crown has seen its brand tarnished, many of its Asian offices closed and its plans to expand to Japan, the United States and casino online games have been abandoned.

Read more: Crown Casino Operator

map of Philippines

If you're looking for a gaming vacation in the area, you might consider the Philippines, but it's a good idea to catch up on what's going on there these days vis-a-vis casinos.

Read more: Clark Region to Become a Land-Based Casino Hub

Vegas skyline

Regardless of whether you’re planning a Vegas casino online vacation or are looking for land-based casino entertainment, you’ll get more out of your vacation if you plan ahead. 

Read more: Nine Secrets to Optimizing your Vegas Vacation

Hanoi skyline

Vietnam, which has observed the lucrative online casino South Africa industry closely, is seeing significant revenue from its own emerging casino industry. Casinos are relatively new to Vietnam but they are starting to show profits, partly through the gaming rooms and partly through the other amenities and accommodations that they offer.

Read more: Casino Industry Boosts Economy in Vietnam

Crown Casino logo

Michael Griffin, director of the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI), announced that the agency is preparing to hold its first-ever public hearings regarding interactions between the Crown Casino and the Department of Home Affairs. The investigation will focus on "issues of corruption" at the casino’s land-based and online casino venues.

Read more: Crown Casino Inquiry

Tokyo skyline

A Wynn Resorts spokesperson announced last week that it is moving its focus from Osaka to Kanto -- which includes the greater area of Tokyo – in its bid for a Japanese gaming license. Now MGM is the big front runner in the race to build an Osaka Integrated Resort. Casino online games may come in the future.

Read more: Wynn Backs Out of Osaka

Auckland skyline

New Zealand is preparing to introduce regulations that will exert government authority over offshore casino games operators. The operators will be required to pay fees, both for the gambling services that they provide to New Zealand residents and for the bets taken on NZ racing and sporting events. 

Read more: NZ Prepares to Regulate Online Casino Gambling

a young couple looking at a laptop screen together

The Communist Party is trying to stop the spread of digital gambling in Asia but thus far, their efforts have not been successful, either in China itself or with the countries where the servers for the casino online games that are serving China are located.

Read more: China’s Ruling Party Tries to Stem Online Casino Games Play Among Chinese

Yokohama skyline

In the meantime, the only way to enjoy casino play in Yokohama Japan is by playing our very own Springbok, the best online casino for South Africa, but Yokohama is trying to change that.  Yokohama has been working hard in recent years to push itself forward economically. The city promotes itself as a world-class host for conferences and exhibitions. It has developed its seafront and other tourist sites and is doing other things to draw investment from the private sector, civil society and international organizations.

Read more: Growth Through IR Development

Manilla skyline

There’s plenty of room for casino growth in the Philippines but operators are wary after President Duterte has been sending mixed signals regarding his approval or disapproval of casino expansion in his country. 

Read more: Philippines Casino News

Macau skyline

Macau’s Statistics and Census Bureau has declared a recession following statistics that show that the enclave’s gross domestic product declined for the second straight quarter. Yet the territory’s casinos are finding new opportunities  amidst the challenges, including the introduction of casino online games.

Read more: Challenges and Changes for Macau Casinos

Sydney skyline

Australia’s booming casino games industry has been shaken by the Crown casino scandal but early indications are that the bottom line will stay steady. 

Read more: Casinos Wary in Wake of Crown Casino Scandal

Crown Casino Melbourne

Australian officials are saying that the recent expose into the Crown Casino’s links to Chinese organized crime syndicates is “only the tip of the iceberg.” The scandal iinvolves the Crown Casino’s questionable business practices that allowed the Crown to lure large numbers of high rolling gamers into their casinos for land-based casino games.

Read more: Expose into Crown Casino Links to Organized Asian Crime

Sun City Casino

Casino venues in South Africa are located in many regions, giving players throughout the country the opportunity to enjoy a casino adventure of fun and excitement. South African residents and visitors have a wide selection of casinos from which to choose, from small, simple casinos to luxurious, opulent casino venues and online casino for South Africa sites. 

Read more: After the Online Casino for South Africa, SA’s Best Land-Based Casinos

Crown Casino

The online casino South Africa is closely watching Australian Attorney General Christian Porter who has ordered an internal investigation by the national integrity watchdog to investigate allegations that Commonwealth officials acted unethically to advance the interests of the Crown Casino.

Read more: Online Casino SA Observes Investigation into Crown Casino AU

Thunderbolt slot game

When you sign in to play at our Thunderbolt online casino, you might find that you don’t have a particular preference for one game over another. Maybe you enjoy them all or perhaps you simply like the action, as opposed to one set of rules over another. 

Read more: The Best Payout Online Casino Games

Progress on Japanese integrated resorts development is moving slowly

When the Japanese parliament voted to allow casino games operators to build integrated casino resorts in the country, politicians, citizens and casino operators assumed that the IRs would be built quickly.  The unique character of Japanese politics and society, however, has led to a situation in which, over a year after the IR bill was passed, the government is still far from making the major decisions needed to move the developments forward.

Read more: Decisions Still Up in the Air Regarding Japan’s IRs and Casinos

Seoul skyline

South Korea is considering spurring tourism and revenue growth by allowing multiple casino operators to build a land-based and online casino games cluster in Inchon. The country’s relationship with gambling is complicated – South Korean citizens are only allowed to enter one of the 18 currently-running South Korean casinos.  But the successes of other casino clusters including Macau and Manila have encouraged South Korean leaders to pursue the plan.

Read more: South Korea Ponder Hosting a Land-Based and Online Casino Games Cluster

SkyCity Casino in NZ

SkyCity has decided to use its experience and know-how in the New Zealand gaming marketplace to attract online gamers to its new online casino platform. The landmark deal, signed with a Malta-based company, will enable SkyCity to make its games and other gambling amenities available to online players.

Read more: SkyCity Announces Casino Venue

Quezon City Skyline

And here is an interesting article - that, luckily, does not affect our FUN at Thunderbolt online casino.  Yet, another advantage to playing online.  But, at any rate, it's important to keep abreast of what's happening in the casino industry - online and onsite.  

Read more: Quezon City Council Requires Casinos to Collect Entry Fees

Osaka skyline

Osaka is a Japanese city that is vying to obtain one of the three Japanese Integrated Resort licenses which will enable it to open a hotel resort - and who knows......maybe a type of Thunderbolt online casino in the future.  

Read more: Osaka Hosts First Casino IR Expo in Japan

Macau skyline

Over the course of the last few years, land based casino crime – in particular, incidents of loan sharking – has been skyrocketing in Macau. Estimates are that the crime rate in general has increased by 14% during the first quarter of 2019 while loan sharking has risen 37%. Authorities have announced that they are getting ready to crack down on crime as they worry that Macau’s place as the world’s leading destination for gambling could be endangered.

Read more: Macau to take rigorous steps on-casino-crime

bitcoin logo

A recent survey demonstrates that South Africans have the highest rate of cybercurrency literacy. South Africans lead the world in the percentage of cryptocurrencies held among internet users. This includes cybercurrency payments for online purchases, gaming at the online casino and even transactions to and from land-based banks.

Read more: The Move to Regulate Cybercurrencies in SA

Residents of Mumbai using smartphones

Online gaming is growing in India, thanks to the rapid proliferation of mobile devices and better access to more affordable Internet. Fantasy Sports has become the most popular online casino game-type, winning out over Real Money Games (RMG) such as poker, quizzes and rummy, casual games/mobile-centric games and esports.

Read more: Online Gaming is Growing all over India

watching TV

New Zealand’s Advertising Standards Authority has announced that they will be enforcing new, stricter restrictions on the visibility of gambling related advertisements. The ASA, citing consumer protection, wants to become more active in controlling the ads that children, teens and individuals with problem gambling behaviors may be seeing.

Read more: NZ Introduces a New Gambling Code

Map of Singapore

Singapore’s 2 casinos, the Genting Singapore Resorts World Sentosa and the Marina Bay Sands, are receiving a boost from the government to help them compete more actively in the growing Asian gambling market. The two Singapore casinos can look forward to the assistance of four of Singapore’s government ministries to help them increase their combined investment by two thirds and become more competitive in the battle to attract gamblers in Asia.

Read more: Singapore’s Government to Strengthen Local Casinos

lotto card

The Lottoland lottery operator was awarded two new licenses by the South African Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. These licenses allow the company to expand gaming entertainment in the entire region.  One of the licenses will enable Lottoland to develop and use their software for business operations while the other permit is a bookmakers license.

Read more: Get Your Lottoland Login NOW

Sydney skyline

And now....let's take a break from our spinning and winning at Thunderbolt Online Casino to see what's going on in the East in the casino world.

Read more: How Can Asian and Pacific Rim Countries Grow Casino Tourism

map of South Africa

South Africa’s online sports betting market is expanding and now features interactive and legalized wagering available for all sports. Sports fans can bet on all sports, both those played within the country and those played in international forums. 

Read more: Sports Betting Options in South Africa

One five card hand and one two card hand

One of the great benefits of playing at an online casino is that you can go from game to game and you’ll never lose your seat at any table or terminal.  Try that at a land-based casino!  It’s somewhat interesting that many online gamers don’t take full advantage of this enormous advantage.  So, in this article, we will “introduce” you to Pai Gow Poker, a poker variation that deserves your attention. 

Read more: Poker Players Love the Challenge of Pai Gow Poker Game

A Thunderbolt gamer working out

There are many answers to that very pertinent question.  There are answers that deal with strategy, with game choice, with bankroll management, with choosing the correct online casino and many others.  In this article, we will talk about how you can improve your chances of winning through paying attention to yourself physically.

Read more: Increase Winning Chances at an Online Casino

Map of New England

Land-based and online casino entertainment is expanding around the United States but the fastest rate of growth seems to be in the Northeast. New Jersey is leading the explosion in gambling growth with new sports betting and online betting options. Connecticut and New Hampshire are also expanding wagering options for state residents and visitors.

Read more: New Gambling Locations to Open in the Northeast

Poker Player holding three cards

One of the less well-known table games we offer here at Thunderbolt Online Casino is three card poker.  A lot of players who try out this exciting casino game stick with it.  In this short blog, we’ll explain the rules and some playing strategy. 

Read more: How to Play Three Card Poker Game

Three people sitting around a computer with Thunderbolt Casino on the screen

The Internet has created a platform for games of all kinds. There are enormous, multiplayer games that have the look and feel of joining into a full-fledged movie. There are competitive games that offer rewards to the winners – those who vanquish their opponents and take on all challenges. There are also all types of small scale games that people can play at their desks at work, sort of like people have always played digital versions of solitaire since the modern computer came into existence.

Read more: The Great People Connector

an open laptop with a Be Safe sign across it

Online casino games are fun and safe and offer just the right amount of heart-pounding moments to keep us coming back for more. But since there is real money on the line, and since some people can truly get hooked on the thrills of casino games, it's important to lay down some ground rules so that things never get out of control.

Read more: Staying Safe at the Casino

A very happy player looking at a chip he's holding

You know that feeling. It might hit you softly, like a feather. Or it might hit you with some impact, like a brick through the windshield. Either way, it's undeniable. Sometimes the heart wants what it wants, and what it wants sometimes is to visit the online casino.

Read more: Now is the Time to Head to the Online Casino

a player playing online casino games sitting at a table with a laptop, phone and tablet all in front of him

Have you ever tried to imagine what the online casino would look like if it were a real, physical place? What size building would it take to house all of those games, and especially all the variations on the main games? It would be many times bigger than any casino that currently exists.

Read more: The Secret Weapon at the Online Casino?

a slots player with a super big smile on his face

There is no doubt that gamblers must be the most optimistic people on earth. It takes a great deal of trust in the goodness of the universe to continually place bets for real money on games that are based entirely or almost entirely on luck, with no chance to influence the outcome.

Read more: How the Online Casino Supports Positive Thinking

Getting Started at Thunderbolt Online Casino

Playing for real money is harder than it looks. Actually, playing is easy. Winning is harder than it looks. That can often be intimidating for new visitors to the Thunderbolt Online Casino. Even with the generous welcome bonus, players can still feel out of their league if the winning doesn't come right away. They may react by choosing games with lower odds, or by playing some of the tried and true skill games, but luck is still the line that divides winning and losing and it's quite a challenge to turn one's luck around.

Read more: How to Start at Thunderbolt Online Casino

a laptop opened to Thunderbolt casino with good snacks and drinks on the table

The online casino for South Africa is growing each year, with no end in sight. More people are discovering how thrilling it could be to play casino games for real money. They are finding the pleasures of risk in a tidy and relatively safe context. And if they take care of some basic precautions such as setting limits in advance, they can enjoy the ups and downs of the casino without truly risking anything important.

Read more: Refining the Online Casino Experience

The thrill before the win, or loss

There are so many reasons why people come to the online casino for South Africa, but perhaps the biggest reason can be summed up as enjoying to live life and on edge. There aren't too many chances in life to take real risk where there is a real potential for winning or losing real money. The online casino is one of those places and if handled properly can be a perfectly contained risk area that does not bleed into the rest of life.

Read more: The Lure of Online Casino Adventure

Neteller and the online casino

There are so many online casinos on the Internet today. Some are legitimate and some are frauds at worst and not reliable at best. You might be making a bigger bet than you think when you come to play at one of the less legitimate ones. There are so many these days that some are starting to take valuable space on search engines from legitimate casino sites, creating even more confusion about which are safe and which are not.

Read more: Sniff Out Fake Casinos

an open laptop with Thunderbolt Casino on the screen decorated for the New Year

There are no bad times to play online casino games, but there are some times that are better than others. That is true for different times of day, as well as for different periods of the year. And one of the best is around the Christmas holiday.

Read more: Christmas is Great Time for the Online Casino

Play Thunderbolt Casino on your PC or Phone or Tablet

Thunderbolt Online Casino is South Africa's top casino site for people who like a local influence on their casino games. The choice of slots themes is enormous and the number and quality of table games is just as impressive. But what really fills out the Thunderbolt experience is the number of platforms you can choose for playing.

Read more: So Many Ways to Play Online, So Little Time

Play at a reliable casino to avoid cryptocurrency fraud

The power of cryptocurrencies is growing by leaps and bounds virtually every month. It's message of online anonymity, security, and decentralization has appealed to many souls across the world. What was once essentially a hobby for people looking for ways to bring the open source lifestyle a step further has grown into a mainstream force that threatens to disrupt virtually every industry.

Read more: Stick with Trusted Online Casino to Avoid Cryptocurrency Fraud

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Alters the Online Casino Industry

People love to play online casino games, and more people are doing it than ever, not just in South Africa but across the entire world. All indicators point to continued growth for at least the next half decade. But over that time, it's possible that technology will step in and change the way people play online casino games. Just as with the mobile casino, which allowed people to play even if they could not get to a computer, the next technological revolution is likely to expand, not alter the playing experience.

Read more: How AI is Altering the Online Casino

Online Casino for South Africa

The casino scene in South Africa is one of the hottest on the planet and it's only growing bigger and bigger. And the online casino is growing at an even greater rate, making it one of the hottest growth industries in the world.

Read more: The Online Casino For South Africa

Win at Thunderbolt Online Casino

Although the biggest fans of online casino games often state that what brings them back again and again is not the winning or losing, the truth is that winning is always more fun. The more winning you do when you're pop into the online casino, the more likely you are to keep playing and to come again more often. Winning may not be the ultimate goal, but it's a pretty strong one nonetheless.

Read more: How to Win at the Online Casino

Intuition at the Online Casino

There are many different ways to play online casino games. Some people believe that the games are all completely random so they simply let fortune take control and guide them. Other people try to look inside and see if their intuition offers any additional assistance. That strategy appears to be similar to letting the chips fall where they may, but it offers one possible advantage. It gives the player the feeling that the games are under some level of guidance that can be tracked and controlled.

Read more: Should You Trust Your Intuition at the Casino?

Use Neteller for online casino

When it comes to casino banking, there is really only one name for quality. The use of Neteller is so widespread among online casino fans that the service hardly has any real second. In fact, some estimate that Neteller has captured the majority of the market among online casino payments. That's a huge chunk of the pie. It suggests that people like the service and are not looking for an alternative.

Read more: Use Neteller For All Casino Needs

Winning  R700,000

The best thing about games of chance is that you never know what's going to happen. A small winning streak can quickly turn into a huge one. That's what happened to James S. from Capetown, as his streak reached a whopping R700,000 from an initial deposit of R190 and a coupon code for a value of 110%.

Read more: Winning Streak Reached R700,000 at Thunderbolt Online Casino

SA casino Booming

There has never been a better time to join the online casino for South Africa, and there has never been a time when so many people have access to high quality casino games. And according to market analysts, the growth is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The boom in mobile access and Internet access in general has made it easy for people to play casino games, and they are doing it in droves.

Read more: The Online Casino for SA is Booming

Games of Chance vs. Games of Skill

Most people choose online casino games that bring them the most pleasure, whether it's because they feel they have the best chance to win, because the game provides a particularly engaging effect, or because they feel the biggest inner thrill when they play.

The best fun, many claim, is in the moment before the game is done, when hopes of victory are at their peak, and the information about whether the game is a winner or loser has not yet been revealed. It's the magical moment gamblers speak about so fondly when they speak about what makes them come back again and again.

Read more: Games of Chance vs. Games of Skill

The Best Online Casinos Have the Best Top Promotions

If you're really the best, do you still need to reach out the public with added incentives. Isn't it enough to offer the best games and the best playing experience? Shouldn't the overall quality of the casino be obvious to all and serve as enough incentive to draw large sections of the public to the casino?

The obvious answer is NO. The better the casino, the more likely it is to offer better incentives such as a generous welcome bonus and monthly promotions that people can take advantage of immediately.

Read more: Why the Best Online Casino Has the Best Promotions

Neteller Banking Solution

Whether you are a beginner at the online casino or a regular visitor, one of the first things to work out is how you play to handle your banking. In other words, what system do you plan to use to convert your real world money into digital currency that can be used to purchase playing credits.

Like most people, you probably want a banking system that you can trust, that is easy to use, and that keeps your playing discrete and private. You can use your credit cards or make bank transfers from your account, but those will not be discrete and private. They will have your name on the payments at the checkout.

Read more: Neteller Banking - A Solution You Could Use

Cryptocurrencies at Online Casino

There deregulated and anonymous nature people have always sought at the online casino through a variety of e-wallets and other banking options may finally have arrived through the medium of cryptocurrencies. These deregulated digital currencies, which are built on a technology called blockchain, are slowly transforming a variety of industries. Can the online casino incorporate Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as successfully as it's managed to ride the waves of change in technology up to now?

Read more: The Growth of Cryptocurrencies at Online Casinos

Best Online Casino Games

With so many gaming choices on the Internet and even so many opportunities for betting across the entire gaming landscape, including sports betting, it's important to find a place to call home. That means finding an online casino that works for you on all the levels you expect. It also means finding games that give you that feeling of excitement you expect when you bet real money.

For some people, that means card games, for others it's classic table games such as roulette and craps. But for the largest grouping of people, it means one of the hundreds and hundreds of slot games that are available on the market.

Read more: Best Online Casino Games to Test

Online Casino Trends to Watch in 2019

If there is one rule about the online casino, it is constant improvement. It would be hard to find any industry that has consistently stayed ahead of technology trends better than the online casino. It has moved smoothly from adding flash games for desktop computers to mobile games for all sorts of phones and tablet devices. It has used the latest trends to improve the delivery of games and how they are played.

Now, with the new year on the horizon, it’s worth looking at some of the biggest trends in technology and how they might be incorporated by the online casino as well.

Read more: Online Casino Trends to Watch

Mobile Phone Users Push Online Casino Games to New Heights

Online casino games are growing dramatically over recent years in South Africa, and some speculate that the increased number of people with Internet-enabled phones is one of the main factors behind the growth. The mobile casino makes it possible to play high quality casino games anywhere and anytime and the access is proving to be a boon for SA casinos. 

According to a recent report, the online gambling market for South Africa reached a total of 26 million rand in 2016, and grew to 28 million rand the following year. Expects expect similar rates of growth the continue for the next few years, independent of other economic trends. The growth forecast proves that South Africa is a stable new market for the online casino, with new people turning their attention the online gambling for the first time.

Read more: Mobile Phone Users Pushing Online Casino to New Heights

Use Your Mind Playing Online Casino Games

There is a fundamental difference between types of video games on the Intenet. Some feature puzzles that need to be solved and require you to use your rational mind to find solutions. They are based on reason. Then there are online casino games. These require virtually no reasoning ability. They are based on luck and require an inner mind, or intuitive style of thinking.

With intuition, you go deeper into the mind than with rational thought. As much as possible, you reach into the unconscious and draw out information that is not necessarily accurate but rather reflects a bigger picture. it takes into account trends and momentum. It looks at things from a holistic perspective.

Read more: Use Your Inner Mind Playing Casino Games

Choose the Best Online Casino

Finding the best online casino is something of a holy grail for some fans of online casino games. After all, if they are going to lay down a lot of money in big bets against significant odds, they want to know that the risks they take will be worth it. For these high rollers, it's not enough to find a great online casino. They want the best online casino and nothing less.

Of course, something as subjective as an online casino experience can never be universally hailed as a best. It can only be defined as the best for them, and as their needs and preferences change, their choice of best casino might change too. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the best online casino is a fluid designation that is not only subject to change but the very criteria by which it is selected could change as well.

Read more: What to Look for in Selecting an Online Casino

What is Really at Stake at the Online Casino?

There are people who feel that betting real money at the online casino is a real vice that needs to be regulated and controlled, and perhaps even outlawed. While there may be a strong case for keeping the online casino out of the hands of minors who may not be able to handle the emotional dimension of the real gambling, there is really no reason to bar adults from indulging in some harmless gambling.

After all, what is really at stake for the people who play? What is the danger that authorities are concerned about so much that they would rather ban the experience than allow people the opportunity to experience those effects.

Read more: What is Really at Stake?

Can Free Online Casino Games Replace the Real Thing?

Anyone who wants to taste the flavor of online casino games without actually risking any real money can find ample opportunities online. There are free games everywhere, and with no option to play them for real money, there are virtually no restrictions on who can play or where they can be played.  

Most online casinos offer free games to give players a chance to try out new games without the pressure of losing, and to give them more confidence when they play the real thing for real money.

Read more: Can Online Casino Games Replace the Real Thing?

Common Mistakes Players Make at the Online Casino

The online casino offers a great opportunity to relax and unwind. In most games, you don't need to make any decisions. All you have to do is allow the fates of fortune to have their way and enjoy the ride. It can be thrilling to play, especially at the very moment when you are about to find out if you win or lose.

It can be exhilarating to win a big prize against all odds. And it can be disappointing to walk away with less money you had when you started. But that's what it means to play for real money. The online casino wouldn't be nearly as much fun without the element of risk that only real money can provide.

Read more: Mistakes Players Make at the Online Casino

Styles of Online Casino Games

Anyone who comes to the online casino for the first time can't help but be impressed with the scope and volume of the online casino games on offer. The entire history of the casino is represented on virtually every casino site across the Internet. And the quality of the games is stunning, especially if you have only ever played the table version of the games. So much thought and planning has gone into making each game worth the time it takes to play it.

Read more: Styles of Casino Games

Tips for Winning in Blackjack at the Online Casino

Blackjack has long been an online casino favorite for its combination of skill and luck, and it's mix of the simple and the complex. The rules are simple - get as close to a total of 21 as possible without going over. But almost immediately it starts to get complicated. Aces are either 1 or 11, and they can change mid-hand from one to the other. The most common number in the deck is 10 because all of the tens and face cards are worth 10.

Read more: Tips for Winning in Blackjack

Finding the Best Online Casino

There are so many online casinos on the Internet today, and everyone wants to find the one that is head and shoulders above every other one. Indeed, the quest for the best online casino is something akin to the spirit of the explorers of the olden days. One was after new lands to conquer, another wanted to find the mythical fountain of youth, still another wanted the fun and adventure of exploring parts of the world that no human eyes had ever seen.

Read more: Finding the Best Online Casino

Life Lessons from Online Casino Games

The online casino is more than a place to go for some excitement and a chance to win real money. It's also a place to observe how aspects of life flow through the world and what we can learn from that. The lessons, of course, are subtle and not always obvious on the surface. Sometimes, it takes a lot of repetition to learn some of the most important lessons.

But because there is real money at stake, online casino games cannot be simply dismissed as simple games of luck with nothing to teach us. Once money is involved, it automatically carries aspects of character, patience, and even our relationship with the universe.

Read more: Life Lessons from Casino Games

Are Online Casino Games Better than the Real Thing?

Ever since online casino games broke out into the public consciousness a decade and a half ago, there has always been one lingering question - can the experience of playing online approximate the experience of going to a casino and playing at a slots room or a card table.

The answer did not take long to arrive. Online casino games offer the same level of excitement as their real life versions, but they also offer the comforts of home and a host of other advantages. When all of the factors are calculated, it seems that the online casino wins in nearly every measure. the only area where the real casino wins is in the social atmosphere of the casino. But that can be created at home too, by getting together and playing with friends.

Read more: Are Online Casino Games Better than the Real Casino Games?

Find the Best Online Casino Games

When it comes to choosing an online casino, the number and quality of the games have to be primary considerations. The more games the better, naturally. But it's even more important that the games include your personal favourites. Ultimately, the games define your experience as much, or more, than factors such as customer service and even the promotions.

Read more: Finding the Best Casino Games

Casino Action in South Africa is On the Rise

A recent study by the international firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), revealed that the growth of casino gambling in South Africa is increasing at an impressive 5% each year and is expected to continue that trajectory for years to come.

Read more: Casino Action in SA is On the Rise

THE Best Place to Play Online Casino Games

Walk though an airport, a waiting room, or even the beach chairs at a public swimming pool and everywhere you look, you'll see people busy on their phones. Some will be sending texts. Others will be playing video games.

Many of them will be playing online casino games. That's the beauty of the mobile casino. It goes wherever you go, and wherever you are, there is a fully stocked casino waiting there for you. Most of us take our phones with us wherever we go. Therefore, we take the mobile casino with us everywhere as well.

Read more: The Best Place to Play Online Casino

Online Casino Games Blow Video Games Out of the Water

On the Internet, there are games and there are casino games. You can find out anything you want to know about regular games by visiting one of the thousands of websites created especially for those who love video games. There are reviews and announcements, discussions about trends, memories of the an older era.

There are also reviews of online casino games - mostly when those games are some of the most played games on the Internet, or there is a brand new feature that never appeared in a game before, or if the game moves the casino in a whole new direction, as some games have over the years.

Read more: Why Online Games Blow Video Games Out of the Water

Card Games For People Who Like Adventure

For some people, the online casino is all about luck. For them, the best games online are the slots and other games of pure chance. Letting luck decide is gambling at its purest and most enjoyable.

For others, games of luck are enhanced when there is an element of strategy. Statistics prove that using basic principles can improve winning percentages in games such as blackjack and poker. The two main strategy games are also games that require a great deal of luck to win. In fact. some argue that luck is a bigger factor than even strategy.

Read more: Card Games For the Adventurer

Halloween at Thunderbolt Casino

Starting with the very first day of October, there is something in the air that is simply undeniable. It's really not the first day of a month called October, even though that's what it says on the calendar. What it really is, for all practical purposes, is the first day of Halloween, a holiday that lasts for the entire month and even spills over to the first days of November as well.

It's in the streets, on television, and even in the online casino. That's when it suddenly becomes imperative to play all those monster based games. That's when the haunted house games go front and center. It's when the sound effects heard throughout the online casino take on a strange, eerie echo and instead of feeling peculiar, it feels completely in line with the times and the prevailing mood.

Read more: The Month of Halloween

Casino Online and Bitcoin

There are many hints about the future in the little corner of the Internet that serves as home for the casino online. That's where some of the most innovative elements are first introduced to the world, or at least applied most successfully.

It's in that part of the Internet where the mobile casino helped pave the way for mobile phones to overtake desktop computers as the most popular platform, and it's where an earlier generation learned about flash-based video games, a technology that was making itself felt through its adoption by YouTube at about the same time.

Read more: The Online Casino and Bitcoin

Casino Online and Bitcoin

Are you ready to take your gaming experience to the next level? Look no further than the Thunderbolt Casino Crypto Guide!

Gone are the days of solely relying on traditional payment methods. With our quick and easy-to-understand Guide, you can easily fund your casino account using various cryptocurrencies.

It's time to embrace the future of online gaming.

 

Get Clued Up: What is Crypto All About?

Crypto is a type of currency that exists entirely online. No more more pesky physical coins or notes weighing down your pockets. It's all stored in your digital wallet.

But here's the kicker: crypto is decentralised, which means it's not controlled by any one person or organisation. That's right, no banks, no governments, no big corporations. It's a currency for the people, by the people.

And the cherry on top? Transactions with crypto are super secure and near-instantaneous. No more waiting for days for your payment to go through or worrying about the security of your funds.

So if you're feeling adventurous and want to join the crypto revolution, buckle up! It's a wild ride, but trust us, it's worth it.

 

Thunderbolt's Crypto Collection

At Thunderbolt we have a dazzling array of digital coins at your disposal! Have a look at our different options and get ready to take the crypto world by a storm!

Bitcoin

Bitcoin stands as the most recognised form of cryptocurrency on the internet. Bitcoin, first introduced in 2009, has since surpassed a decade of online presence. This longevity, in itself, speaks to the crypto's steadfastness and universality. You can buy, sell, or excahnge Bitcoin directly, without any intermediaries.

Litecoin

In the world of decentralised systems for peer-to-peer transactions, Litecoin stands out as an early and prominent player. It is the speedy silver to Bitcoin's gold. It was introduced into the market in 2011, and has since found use in crypto trading and online payments.

Bitcoin Cash

Bitcoin Cash was initiated as a branch of Bitcoin in the year 2017, and after a year of operation, it emerged as an independent cryptocurrency in the crypto world. As of today, Bitcoin Cash has established itself as a significant player in the crypto market, boasting a substantial market share and user base.

 

Top up your Thunderbolt Casino Account with Crypto

Now that you're familiar with the digital currency world. It's time to start funding your Thunderbolt gaming with Crypto!

Download a Trusted Crypto Wallet

The very first step is to open up your very own Crypto Wallet. It's super simple to set up and even easier to use.

Our favourite options are:

Add Crypto to your wallet

Now that you've created your wallet. It's time to start using it. You will have to load your wallet with your cryptocurrency of choice. To do this you'll need to visit a bitcoin exchange market, such as Coinbase. You can then purchase bitcoins using a credit card, bank transfer or any other payment method.

Select your Deposit Option

  1. Head to the Cashier

  2. Select "Bitcoin", "Litecoin", or "Bitcoin Cash"

  3. You will get a QR code with the crypto address

  4. Send the desired amount to the crypto address that appears n your screen

  5. Start spinning and winning big!

With these steps, you are now ready to dive into the world of online gambling with the power of crypto in your hands. We can't wait to see you make lightning-fast deposits and win big with the help of this revolutionary digital currency.

Slots vs. Roulette

For people who love to play online casino games, the world is full of choices. The best ones, of course, are found at the online casino. There are games of chance and games of skill and chance.

Games of chance are based entirely on luck. You roll the dice, spin the reels, or even spin the wheel, and luck decides where it lands, and luck determines whether you win or not. There is nothing you can do to give yourself a better chance of winning. There is no way to influence the result. It all comes down to luck.

Read more: Slot Games vs. Roulette Games

The Mark of a Great Online Casino

What do you look at first when you arrive at an online casino? Is it the number of games? The selection of games? Most casinos have a large assortment of high quality games, so it's probably not the game selection that makes the difference when it comes to a good vs. a great online casino.

Read more: The Mark of a Great Casino

How Artificial Intelligence Will Change the Online Casino

The online casino has always been at the forefront of online and digital trends. Long before cellular phones surpassed the desktop computers in popularity, the mobile casino had a strong offering of online casino games optimized for that format. And as platforms were added to the array of cellular options, the online casino was ready to optimize for all of them.

Read more: How AI Will Change the Online Casino

Does it Matter What a Game Looks Like?

With so many choices of games in the online casino, what makes one game stand out against all of the rest? There are many factors, including special features, theme, and of course, promotions. But the main factor may well be the game's appearance. The time and effort placed on creating a graphical image that can capture the imagination tends to pay off in the improved quality of the playing experience.

Should a game's appearance make a difference in the epic battle at the heart of the casino online - the dramatic showdown between you and your own luck? The forces at play are much larger than the casino online, and the games are simply vessels for delivering the final verdict of fortune, the ultimate decision on whether the game is a winner or not.

Read more: Does Game Appearance Matter?

Online casino booming

Gambling in American may be on the way to a renaissance led by the emergence of sports betting and spreading out to online casinos in legal areas. The latest sign of growth is a report from the New Jersey online gambling industry that August was the third best month in the state's history of online casino games.

The spike in profits also represented a 16% growth from the previous year, a sign that the boom in August was not a solitary event but rather part of a trend that is building. It appears to be a product of new casinos and a growth of interest in casino gaming, both of which bode well for the industry in general.

Read more: Online Casino is Booming in US

Better betting tips

While casino games online are based on luck, and there is no way to influence some of the most popular games, such as slots or roulette. There is no way to make the reels stop at a particular time and spin the wheel softly enough to control where it stops. Therefore, there is a perception that betting on the games is a completely random occurrence with no real input from the player.

But in actuality, there is a part of the game that player has complete control over, and that is the betting side. Gaining a mastery of betting can make the experience more interesting, successful, and fulfilling. Here are some tips on how to master the art and science of betting.

Read more: Best Tips for Better Betting

Risk real money gambling

Funny as it sounds, there are people who have never tasted the power of casino games online. They don't grasp the thrill of risking real money on something as random as a spin of the reels in a slots game or the deal of card in poker. They don't understand why people would want to play games that could leave them with a bit less spending money.

Most of all, they don't understand why games of chance with real stakes are so appealing for so many people. They have never felt the rising tension of the roulette wheel as it starts to slow down. They eye catches the target range of numbers and the mind quickly calculates what it will take for the ball to land right there, flush in the middle of the series to avoid any doubt it was in there.

Read more: Risking Real Money

Poker or Blackjack?

The people who love to play cards at the casinos online - like our very own Thunderbolt Casino - are usually people who prefer their games to mix luck and skill, in contrast to fans of slots games or roulette or craps, which are based entirely on the spin of a wheel or the roll of the dice. In card games like poker or blackjack, luck plays a vital role, but there are still ways to influence the outcome through decisions made throughout the game. The better the decisions, the more winning.

Of course, good luck can make bad decisions look like genius. And bad luck can negate good strategy properly applied. But every sequence in a card game has been played enough times that there are odds on various outcomes. And those odds, ever time, tend to bear themselves out. That means that the right decisions have to take into account what the most likely outcome will be and then gauge the level of luck that seems to be flowing.

Read more: Poker or Blackjack

Themes and Stories Give Slots Games an Edge

In the race for supremacy in the casino online arena, the competition comes down to the old guard of the casino - traditional games like poker, blackjack, and roulette - on one side, and the upstart five reel slots on the other side. One side has years of experience under its belt and a long tradition of popularity with casino fans. The other has the benefits of technology as well as something brand new to the casino online - storytelling.

It's the stories and the themes that make them come to life that give slots games an advantage in modern times. The stories help make the experience smooth and elegant. To spin a slots game with a strong theme and an immersive quality is nothing like the act of rolling dice or even spinning a roulette wheel. Those activities feel like they belong to an earlier era, while modern times belong to something new.

Read more: How Themes and Stories Give Games an Edge

Future of the Online Casino

If there is one rule that the online casino truly embodies it's that change and innovation are essential for survival. Few industries have been as committed to embracing new platforms and new ways of expanding the experience as the online casino has been. When new technologies arrive, it's a short time before the online casino has found a way to take advantage of them.

Therefore, it is always interesting to look into the crystal ball and see what the future holds for the online casino. Trends that are already underway in the casino system tend to herald the direction that much of the world will be headed soon enough.

Read more: The Future of the Casino Online

Games Online Are Becoming the Norm

The number of games online is growing rapidly, and the complexity and sophistication of these games grows broader every year. There are games for all moods, every direction one might search. In fact, marketing experts speak about turning the entire internet into a game. It's called "gamification." An activity might earn users points toward some goal, and users (players) compete with everyone else doing the same type of thing.

Life is a game and the internet is just a reflection of that reality.

Read more: Online Games Are Becoming the Norm

What To Do When Luck is Down

When people visualize a day at the online casino, they think of big pots, many wins strung together, good luck flowing so hard you think you owe it to the Australia online casino to stop playing or the site might not be around to visit later. 

While that scenario in a slightly less exaggerated way may play out now and then, especially if you come to play often enough, it's certainly not the norm. It is also possible at times to strike on just the opposite experience, when nothing is going your way and you start to think about taking some time off to keep your sanity. 

Read more: When Luck is Down

Will Sports Betting Boost the Online Casino?

With the watershed decision to clear all federal regulations against sports betting in the US, the gambling world has been waiting to see the ripple effect on other gambling operations. When the American basketball league, NBA, signed an exclusive agreement with a local US casino hotel, it was clear that the gambling operation would certainly reach far and wide, even as deep as the online casino.

As part of the agreement, the NBA will provide data to help create online versions of games that promote the betting. In other words, they will start to create a type of game that could potentially compete with online casino games.

Read more: Will a Rise in US Sports Betting Boost the Casino?

Online Casino:  day or night?

There are activities that, by their very nature, are better performed at night or during the day. Most of what people consider to be work is done between 9 am and 5 pm, and yet there are growing numbers of people who consider themselves to be part of the creative class who work unconventional hours. Their best work may be done at night, when there are no phone calls to distract them or, if they work at home, children who need their attention. 

In publishing, there is a growing trend to define various books as day books or night books. Day books tend to be non-fiction that is laden with facts and data, like academic works or books of history. In fiction it could be more challenging stories and experimental writing style. Night books are smoother, more linear in time, and generally require less processing to understand. 

Read more: Day or Night at the Online Casino?

Online Casino is a Better Bet

It's hard to imagine a world without online casino games but many people, when they think way, way back to about 15 years ago, might be able to remember that dark age. Back then, if people wanted to play casino games for real money, they had to go to a real casino. It might have been exciting to play in the big room with others who shared the same passion for betting on games of chance. But it also cost time and money to play, and ultimately left less for the real action.

Read more: Online Casino is a Better Wager

Famous Movie Scenes Set in Casinos

Many mainstream films about weighty themes have vital scenes set in casinos. The intensity of the environment makes the scenes particularly potent and meaningful, especially when contrasted with the serious themes of the movie. In the coming years, will the online casino be a setting for high drama as well? 

Of course, the casino can also be part of some comic relief for the characters. Those scenes often work because the money that changes hands can be symbolic of the way the characters move through the world, either with great luck pushing them forward or with no luck at all pulling them back.

Read more: Famous Casino Movie Scenes

What Makes Online Casino Games So Charming

There are many things about online casino games that appeal to us right from the start. First, there are the wacky graphics and the impressive sound effects that hit our senses before we even begin to play the games. Then there is the outstanding quality of the games themselves, which can get deeply absorbing in a way that many games never can.

And then there is that thing that's most appealing about them - the opportunity to play for real money. It's the same reason sports betting is so popular across the world, and the reason that people can get so caught up that they start to lose control of their decisions.

Read more: What Makes Casino Games So Charming

The Power of Pattern Recognition

In 2011, researchers at the University of Illinois wanted to know if playing sports gave athletes an advantage over non-athletes in ways that did not show up in sports scores. They created a simulated version of a busy street and had a group of college athletes compete against student non-athletes to see who was better at getting across that street.

Read more: Pattern Recognition

The Science of the Moment

Most people who love online casino games say that the best moment comes just before the game ends, in that peak point where hope and uncertainty collide head on and the tension that comes from playing for real money pulls to the limit. The result that comes after that moment is already anticlimatic, important to know but not the real reason some people play.

That moment of highest pleasure, win or lose, is a great fascination for social scientists. Some place it in the study of happiness. Others say it belongs in the psychology department.

Read more: The Science of the Moment - Win or Lose

Does a Big Win Pay More than the Odds?

One of the most important elements in placing a bet at the online casino is knowing what odds you are facing. It's crucial to smart betting because you want to give yourself the best chance to win, or at least the best chance relative to how you feel your luck is going. And it's also essential to building that internal tension that builds throughout the game and explodes in the moment before the result is revealed.

Read more: Does a Huge Win Pay More than the Odds?

How the Casino Online is Different from Sports Betting

One of the joys of gambling is that it can make any activity more thrilling and turn a mundane activity into an adventure. All it takes is a small stake on the outcome, and suddenly we are all paying close attention to every detail with an interest that you can only have when you have skin in the game. That's why sports betting is so much fun, and it's a big part of why people love to visit the casino online.

But while all types of gambling are fun and we are fortunate to live in a world that offers so many appealing options, there are some differences between playing slots or cards at the casino online and placing a bet on the game of the week.

Read more: How the Casino is Different from Sports Betting

Pay Attention to Casino Bonuses

There is one sure way to know that someone really wants you to come visit - if he goes out of his way to lavish you with gifts simply for the act of coming over. That's essentially what's happening at the casino online, where all sorts of bonuses await those who come to play, and even more chances for bonuses follow.

In other words, bonuses are the primary language casinos use to tell their customers that they are wanted. And they keep showing the love through a variety of additional bonuses throughout the month directed at specific games or activities. Bonuses are the sweetener a casino online would use to show appreciation that a player chose that casino among all the casinos out there.

Read more: Pay Attention to Online Casino Bonuses

How Pop Culture Invigorates Online Casino Games

When the online casino came into being, the slots game occupied a small place. Limited to three reels and only as many as three pay lines, the options for the game seemed limited in the digital age. At best, it seemed, it would be a facsimile of the real thing, nothing more and nothing less.

Of course, we know how history took its course. The lowly slot machine emerged as the most popular game in the entire online casino, pushing poker to the side and completely obliterating popular games such as roulette and blackjack.

Read more: Pop Culture Invigorates Online Casino Games

The Best Place to Play

Ever since the Internet made the casino available to everyone, and not just for those who have the time and money to travel to real casinos, there has been a democratization of the games online. Now people can choose when and where they play, and even under what conditions. People can wake up, roll out of bed and play slots or roulette in their pajamas. They can even take the casino with them through their phone and play in the calm and comfort of a seaside cafe, if they can find one in their local area.

Read more: Play at Home - The Best Place to Play

NBA Inching Closer to Online Casino Games

The National Basketball Association, which brought some of its biggest names to Africa for series of games, has announced a new betting agreement with MGM Resorts International. It's the first time a major American sport has aligned with a betting company.

The agreement allows the casinos that belong to the MGM chain to use the NBA logo, official names, and statistics. The logo. along with the stats, will also be allowed to be used for digital offerings the casino may have.

Read more: NBA Moving Closer to Online Casino Games

Loving to Win vs. Hating to Lose

When it comes to the online casino, it's not unusual to find people who come just for the chance to win a little extra cash, whether it's a bit more money for a weekend away, cash for a gift for their significant other, or just a little bit more money to have on hand in case they get the itch to buy something. 

For those people, there are generally two similar but distinct motivations that can be divided into two categories. There are those who love to win and those who hate to lose. 

Read more: Hating to Lose vs. Loving to Win

Online Casino Games Make Us Better People

Gambling is often considered a vice that must be carefully monitored to ensure that it does not encroach its territory and corrupt other areas of our lives. While it's true that visits to the casino online must be monitored and limits must be set and adhered to, the danger posed by online casino games is actually far smaller than the benefits they bring.

There are actually a number of ways that the casino online helps us in our lives and makes us better as employees, partners, and people in general.

Read more: How Online Games Make Us Better

How to Fit Online Casino Games into a Busy Schedule

Games in the casino online is fun and quick, a combination that makes them appealing virtually any time of day and easy to manage in between jobs, assignments, and projects. They make effective palate cleansers when moving from one task to another because they can be completely absorbing. That quality makes them games an easy way to build up momentum, and an equally effective way to wind down after a long day at work.

Read more: How to Fit Online Casino into a Busy Schedule

When and When Not To....

A good friend once told me that life comes down to understanding when to take action and when to hold back. His formulation for this decision, in his own words, is reduced to a simple formula - when and when not to. When to make the move and when to hold back and allow the action to come to you.

Read more: When and When Not To....

Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride

A visit to the online casino - like Thunderbolt Casino - is a thrill ride that takes us out of our everyday lives and puts us a the mercy of forces that are greater than ourselves. We can't control these forces and we can't even influence them, as our ancient ancestors tried to do with the rains and sunshine for the crops they depended on for life. 

Read more: Buy a Ticket, Take a Ride

Betting from the Right Side of the Brain

The idea that we have two separate and distinct sides of our brains is one of the truisms of science. The traditional understanding of this phenomenon is that the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and serves as our center for logic and rationality. The right side control the left side of our bodies and serves as the repository for all of our creative functions. That could be why so many artists are left handed. Their bodies reflect the fact that the right side of the brain is dominant in them.

Read more: Wager from the Right Side of the Brain

Real Atlantic City Casino now offers online games

If you can't beat them, join them. That's the obvious lesson in the recent decision from the Atlantic City based casino, Ocean Resort to launch its own online casino site that would work hand-in-hand with the real casino.

The new site will allow people to combine their loyalty points between the real casino and the online version so that people can continue to stay within the Ocean Resort brand even if they prefer to play online casino games rather than travel to the casino itself.

Read more: Atlantic City Casino Now Offers Online Games

European and American Roulette - Does it Matter?

People who love the casino online, such as our very own Thunderbolt Casino, are always looking for an edge, something that gives them that small advantage that may not make much difference from game to game or even from day to day. But over time, that edge puts them ahead by just enough to justify the time and money they spend at the casino.

Read more: European and American Roulette

Rush of Risk

Everywhere you look, it seems that the people who are most engaged with life, most apt to take full advantage of the opportunities they encounter, and most in step with their time and environment are those who live at the cutting edge of risk

Risk is all around us, but it is most clearly expressed through games of chance such as slots and cards. When we make bets on the outcome of those games, there is always a risk that we could lose our money through nothing more than bad luck. That's what makes online casino games so immersive and so deeply engaging.

Read more: Live at the Cutting Edge of Risk

Cards Vs. Slots - The Ultimate Showdown

The casino online offers a wealth of betting opportunities that capture just about the entire history of the casino in all of its manifestations. There are dice games that go back to the earliest days of gambling, and even some of the more sophisticated games, like roulette, have a long and vivid history before they arrived in their current form.

Read more: Cards Vs. Slots

Play lesser known table games

While the superstar online casino games are clearly slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette, it is worth your while to consider some of the lesser known games. All online casino games have stood the test of time, and any true connoisseur of the casino experience would want to try out all of them, at least to know how it feels to play them.

Read more: Lesser Known Table Games

Science behind intuition

When it comes to playing games of chance for real money, it helps to have an inner voice that guides you through the a typical playing session, letting you know when to stop, when to increase the bet, and when to ride out a period that feels like a bad streak.

That inner voice can be called intuition. Ask any gambler about it and he'll tell you that the best way to build intuition is to keep on playing. The more games you play, the more situations you see. And the more exposure you have to the variance in the games, the rhythm of how the odds play out in real games, the better your chances are of being able to pick out patterns in the randomness.

Read more: Is Science Behind Intuition?

Betting Guide for Beginners

Online casino games have grown in popularity over the last decade as more people discover the thrills of playing games of chance with real money on the line. And more people playing means there are always beginners coming to online casinos who need a bit of guidance to feel more comfortable with the games and especially with the idea of betting real money.

It may seem like a simple thing to play slots or video poker, but there are ways to make the experience more pleasurable. Following these tips will help take a bit of pressure off of the game and open up the fun that they offer.

Read more: Casino Betting Tips for Beginners

Get into the Online Casino Zone

People who train for high level sports performance speak about getting into a flow state where they feel as though they are fully engaged in the sport they are playing. The right actions seem to come to them out of thin air and their performance is at its absolute peak. They call it entering The Zone, where everything seems like it's going their way and their opponents have no chance to counter.

Read more: Is There a "Zone" for the Casino?

Finding the Best Games Online

With online casino games spreading far and wide through the Internet, it's always nice to get perspective from other players about the best games, the best strategies for playing, and the best overall experience.

Fortunately, the rise of the online casino has also brought with it a huge resource for everyone involved and that is the online casino review. For every casino site and every game that comes out, it's possible to read reviews by people who have played the games, visited the casinos, and experienced the highs and lows of the games on their own.

Read more: Finding the Best Casino Games Online

Free Spins (and Other Promotions)

There are many ways for a casino online (like our very own, Thunderbolt Casino) to show its players that they are wanted by the casino. There are welcome bonuses, matching bonuses, special promotions, and of course, free spins. While every one of these measures goes a long way in helping players feel welcome and appreciated, the one that may be the most elegant is the last one.

Read more: The Meaning of Free Spins

Europe Dominates at the World Cup

The world's most popular sport is turning into an all-Europe affair with the elimination of Brazil, one of the favorites to win the whole tournament, and Uruguay, which had been playing some of the best football through the early rounds.

Read more: Europe Dominates at the Football World Cup

casino games in popular culture

The intense popularity of the online casino is a clear extension of the enduring popularity of casino games in all formats. The most recognizable forum for top level casino action is the real casino in places such as Las Vegas or the Riviera. But casinos, and the games they represent, are not just places to play thrilling games of luck. They are also iconic symbols across all forms of popular culture.

Read more: Casino Games in Pop Culture

Online casino games vs real casino games

There have been many comparisons between the experience of playing in a real casino vs. playing games online  in the comfort of your own home. It's a close battle between the two but in most cases, the experience of playing at home whenever the mood strikes and in the environment you choose is the favorite.

Read more: Casino Games Online vs. Games in a Real Casino

When you need to take a break

The online casino is a place to go to for fun with a possibility of winning some extra cash for the weekend. But because you are playing for real money, you stand to lose real money as well. In most cases, winning or losing isn’t really the point of playing at all. It’s the icing on cake that is made of thrills, risks, gasps, and deep personal engagement.

Read more: Signs You Need a Pause from Online Casino Games

Joy of Playing Online Casino Games on the Go

At first, people had to go to the casino if they wanted to experience the thrills of casino games for real money. Next, the online casino made it possible for anyone to play from the comfort of their own homes. Finally, we reached a point where people could play their favorite games anywhere and anytime through the mobile casino. All they need is a connection to the Internet and an account with their favorite online casino.

Read more: The Joy of Playing Online Casino Games

What casino teaches us about life

The casino online is full of games of chance that require little or no skill to play and the outcome of the games has virtually nothing to do with the effort of the player. In some cases, such as card games, it is possible to make good or bad decisions that can influence the outcome. In other cases, practicing wisdom in betting can make difference as well since the game allows you to choose the odds you play against.

Read more: What the Online Casino Can Teach About Life

Your Casino Home Online

Since the real breakout of casino games online a decade ago, the number of casinos has truly grown fruitful and multiplied. But with so many options, it becomes a challenge to find the one that's best for you. A good casino is a home away from home, a place to visit when you need a little bit of drama to shake up your day or a little bit of calm to settle down and relax. The ideal casino can give you both when you need them.

Read more: Finding Your Casino Home Online

Senegal out of the World Cup on new rule

While most of the world was either cheering or lamenting (though mostly cheering, it seems) the unceremonious exit of defending World Cup champion Germany from the Group stage of the tournament, it may have slipped through the cracks that Senegal was eliminated despite being tied with Japan on points.

Read more: Senegal Out of World Cup on Fair Play Rule

Online Casino Games as a Bonding Activity

Online casino games can certainly bring people closer together. The very act of competing against someone in a friendly way - especially as the competition involves games of chance that neither person can control or influence - naturally brings people closer together.  

Read more: Casino Online Games as a Bonding Activity

Online casinos and bitcoin

If there was ever a match made in heaven, it would be the union of the online casino and Bitcoin, the virtual currency that is threatening to overturn the power structure of world-wide institutions. The price of Bitcoin suddenly edged up around the beginning of the year to the point where no one could simply dismiss the currency. It has since had some ups and downs, though it has yet to return to the dizzying heights it enjoyed just a few short months ago.

Read more: Playing Casino Games with Bitcoin

Games of chance or games of skill?

The online casino is a treasure chest of a certain kind of game - the type there the outcome is determined entirely or largely by chance. There are all sorts of different games of chance, but they all have one thing in common. They are based on the understanding that you cannot control how the reels spin, or how the roulette wheel turns, or how the cards are dealt. And those are the things that determine if you win or lose.

Read more: Games of Chance and Games of Skill

Why play at a local online casino?

If you are going to play online casino games, you're better off playing at a casino that is located and caters to South Africans. You can avoid issues of money exchange rates, which could complicate your accounting methods, and benefit from a mentality that matches your own.

Europe-based casinos, which require European currency, tend to produce funny figures when you work out the exchange. And you never know when the exchange rates may change, so it's not stable either.

Read more: Playing at a Local Casino Online Makes Sense

World Cup Games

The World Cup football tournament, which launched last week, may well be the liveliest sports event in the world today, bigger even than the Olympics.It's even bigger if you count how much streaming is going on with the games online. 

The Olympics has the grandeur of tradition and so many events that it's bound to have something for every member of the family. The World Cup, in contrast, focuses on just one sport. It just happens to be the most popular sport in the world, and the competition to enter the tournament is so intense that every country that qualified is playing at the highest level of the sport. So there are no secondary matches the way there are secondary events at the Olympics.

Read more: World Cup Grabs Attention

Playing in Pajamas

It's fun to play casino games online. Part of the fun is the chance to win real money (and the risk that you could lose real money as well). Another part of the appeal is clearly related to the fact that you can play whenever the mood strikes, whenever you're feeling particularly lucky, and you don't even have to change out of your pajamas to do it.

The fact that you can play for real money in a setting that you choose is a major advantage of online casino games over real casino games. You not only save the cost of travel in terms of time and money but also get to play while eating, or even preparing, your breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can play during a break at work. You can even play when you can't get to a computer, like when you're at the swimming pool or on a bus between cities. All you need is an Internet connection through the mobile casino.

Read more: Playing in Your Pajamas is a Big Deal

playing online casino games for free

Online casino games typically appeal to people who love the thrill of wagering real money on a game of chance. It's no wonder that the most popular games are slots games, which have no element of skill to them at all. It's impossible to influence the spin of the reels. It's enormously fun to bet on the results of a random event.

But while it's true that you can't influence where the reel will stop and what symbols you're going to find, it's not entirely true that playing has absolutely no skill involved. Betting itself is an art that requires practice and intuition. It's not clear whether science has ever confirmed the existence of a gut feeling, but most betters have known the feeling at some point. It's that sense that you know where the momentum is moving and you can bet in synch with that.

Read more: Playing Casino Games for Free

Blackjack's 2 sided ace

One of the things that makes casino games online, and especially card games, so much fun is the sheer stability of it. The hands of poker are clearly distinct from one another, the values of the cards are clear and consistent. There are no dice - the element of chance is all carried through the dealer and the cards he or she provides.

There is enormous stability in card games in all areas - except one. The ace in a game of blackjack changes depending on the hand. It can even change mid-game to grow or shrink in value.

Read more: Blackjack's Two-Sided Ace Strategy

The thrill of risk in gambling

Adding an element of risk, especially when it's done responsibly and directed towards something as harmless as online casino games, is a way of adding spice to our lives without having to worry about real consequences.

The key element from the above paragraph is that it is handled responsibly. As long as people don't bet more than they can afford to lose, and they don't spend money earmarked for important things like paying the bills or saving for something significant, they are able to feel the thrill of winning or losing as much as they want.

Read more: The Thrill of the Risk

NBA comes back to South Africa

NBA basketball is coming back to South Africa after the successful outings in 2015 and 2017. The ongoing investment in building its name in Africa is a testament to the growth of interest in the NBA across all of Africa as well as the powerful contribution players from Africa, most notably NBA All-Star Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers, who was born on Cameroon.

Read more: NBA Returning to South Africa

Go Wild for wild symbols

Slots games online used to be simple affairs. They had three reels, and only the most progressive and innovative ones had more than one pay line. Maximum, the game offered three pay lines.

It was an era where the wild symbol was just emerging as a major element of the game. At that point, it was much like a joker in a game of cards. It was nice to get and everyone knew what was happening when it appeared. But it wasn't something you bank on or expect on any level. It was a nice bonus that made the game a bit more fun, and a bit more profitable when you got one.

Read more: Go Wild Over Wild Casino Symbols

Guide to Online Casino Games

Chances are you already know the appeal of online casino games, or at least have felt the thrill you get when you risk real money on a game of chance. You know what the fun is all about and you understand why the casino has such a long history of appeal.

Read more: Best Guide to Online Casino Games

Progressive Slots

If you consider yourself a big hitter, a high stakes player who lives or the mega-payout, the real jackpot, then slots games with progressive jackpots are right up your ally. Progressive slots have the biggest payouts in the entire casino online. Some of them start with jackpots of a million coins and just keep growing every time someone plays the game anywhere in the world and doesn't win.

Read more: Go for the Biggest Payoffs

Beware of Bitcoin scams

Bitcoin continues its slow but steady march towards the mainstream of financial life, allowing for decentralized currency to move into more and more industries. It's also become a more popular payment method for playing games online. But not all of the news from the world of cryptocurrencies is good. As Bitcoin grows, so do the number of unscrupulous people exploiting it to defraud the public.

The latest case in South Africa was announced earlier this week. Police have launched an investigation into a company that promised extremely good returns on investments but never managed to deliver, leading to one billion rand in fraud to investors.

Read more: Bitcoin Scams!

Top Casino Movies

When the last Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi, wanted to show wealth and opulence with a certain social group, they showed them at a casino, presented as something of a playground for the ultra-rich. Even with the sci-fi elements thrown in, the casino undeniably played a big part in helping the director set the mood and look he wanted. Even online casino games use iconic imagery, and so do the current crop of films. 

The casual appearance in Star Wars points out how common it is to see the casino in mainstream films. The following is the Top Five Films Featuring Casinos.

Read more: Top Casino Movies

What to look for in an online casino

The Internet today is loaded with opportunities to play online casino games for real money. There are so many online casinos, it's become a real challenge to decide which to choose. But choosing has many advantages that should not be wasted.

Having a regular casino you go to every time you feel like playing allows you to build up loyalty points, which you accrue every time you play and which you can then redeem for something of value when you collect enough of them. The points grow each time, so don't water down your loyalty bonus by spreading your points across multiple casinos.

Read more: What to Look for in an Casino?

Escape the winter with an online casino

With cold days of Winter approaching at the speed of greyhounds streaming across a track. visions of hats and gloves are close behind them. For more and more people, Winter planning means coming up with ways to stay as warm as possible.

In the old days, before the casino online, a good way to spend a day or two indoors was to visit a real casino. Conditions were always comfortable and the drinks were always flowing. Best of all, the casino action was non-stop, creating a thrilling environment.

Read more: Beat the Winter, Visit the Online Casino

mobile gaming revolution

The advent of the mobile casino may not be the most dramatic development in the history of the casino online, but it's a pretty close second. The top spot, inevitably, belongs to the development of the five reel video slots game. It transformed the casino from a digital - and largely inferior - version of a real casino to a dynamic force in its own right that eventually leapfrogged in popularity over the hotel casino.

Read more: A Revolution the Mobile Casino

Online Casino Games as Metaphors of Life

Some people say that everything we do is actually a reflection of something we feel inside on a deep, unconscious level. All of our actions, according to this theory, are metaphors for who we really are and what we really want.

That means that the activities we gravitate towards are expressions of something primal, something at the core of our being. If we allow them free expression, they are essentially the closest thing we can get to that can be considered our own personal truth.

Read more: Are Casino Games Metaphors of Life?

US rules on sports betting

It was the shot heard 'round the world - especially at online casinos everywhere. It was, of course, the dramatic ruling by the US Supreme Court striking down Federal laws barring sports betting in America.

According to the court, the ban enacted in 1992 had violated the rights of states to make their own laws. The law had precluded any expansion of sports betting outside Nevada and in limited parts of two other states. But with the law stricken off the books, some states are expected to jump into sports betting full-force.

Read more: What US Ruling on Betting Means for the Online Casino

Poker tips to play like a pro

Some online casino games require nothing but luck, but others reward a certain amount of skill combined with luck. Poker is such a game, and the success of some professional poker players in recent years has proven that experience and intuition can contribute to winning poker.

Luck, however, is still the main determinant of winning or losing. But gaining an inner sense of the odds with various hands can only help maximize that luck.

Read more: Poker Tips to Play Like a Pro

Best time to play at an online casino

While there is no bad time to play casino games - except maybe in the middle of a meeting with your boss when you are expected to pay attention and make comments - there are clearly times that are more suited for a positive online casino experience than others.

The best time to play, however, is going to vary from one person to another. Some might like to play when they get out of bed, while sipping a hot coffee, and in between glances at their favorite online news site.

Read more: The Best Time to Play at an Online Casino?

Betting across African continent on the rise

South Africa has had the lion's share of attention when it comes to the rise of the casino online throughout Africa. But other countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, are also seeing huge numbers of people making bets through the Internet.

Much of the growth could be related to the growth of Internet connectivity in these and other African country. Technology has also made it easier for people to convert their cash into online currency, making it more convenient to visit the casino online rather than in person. With online betting, there is no need to spend time and money traveling in order to experience the same thrilling action.

Read more: Betting On the Rise Across Africa

Blackjack strategy made simple

Even with hundreds of options, there is no denying that blackjack has emerged as one of the most enduringly popular casino games of all time, And it continue to claim an ever larger share of the mobile gaming pie. The popularity of blackjack should continue to trend upward.

Unlike classic games online such as slots and roulette, blackjack  requires more than luck to be optimally successful. There is a measure of skill that takes time and experience to acquire. Luck may be enough to carry some games to victory. But without practice, most players are leaving money on the table when they play.

Read more: Simple Blackjack Strategy

Popularity of Slots Games

There is no doubt that slot games are the the heavyweight champions of the online casino. But what makes these casino games so much more popular than casino standards like roulette, blackjack, or poker?

Slot games deliver a burst of fun very quickly, and they rely entirely on luck. There is absolutely no skill involved in the game. You simply pull the lever and hope for the best. That makes the slot game the perfect expression of casino action. Games of skill require practice and concentration. Slots have none of that extra weightiness.

Read more: What Makes Slots So Popular?

Best Places to visit in South Africa

Taking a break from our "usual" topics, we've decided to brag about our amazing country a bit, and make sure you all know the absolute best places to visit while in SA.

Everyone knows that South Africa is one of the world's premier destinations for all types of travelers. But what are the best spots to hit to get a real taste of the country? If you have time to visit five different places, you can get the experience of a lifetime in South Africa.

Read more: Best Places to Travel in SA

Computer vs mobile gaming

The first great online casino revolution came years ago with the establishment of the online casino. For the first time in history, everyone - and not just those who had the time and money to travel to real casinos - had access to high quality casino games. Suddenly, the number of people playing online games for real money exploded and has not fallen since.

Read more: Online Casino vs Mobile Casino

how playing games boosts personal development

When it comes to personal development, playing video games online tends to be seen as a distraction at best and a harmful activity at worst. But several generations after video games started to appear on the market, the evidence consistently points in the opposite direction.

Video games, including online casino games, bring many benefits. It's a secret gamers have known for years. Finally, the message is starting to gain traction in mainstream culture as well.

Read more: Playing Online Games Has Many Benefits

the excitement that you might win

When it comes to playing online casino games for real money, people often say that their primary goal is to walk away from the casino with a thicker wallet than they had when they started.

In other words, winning is usually at the center of the casino experience.

Read more: The Moment That's Bigger than Losing or Winning

Online Casino Games

If casino games were heavyweight boxers, the undisputed world champion would be the slots casino. It's not only true that there are more slots games than any other type of casino game, but there are also many more players looking for slots. The appeal is clear to anyone who loves to play online games of chance for real money. And slots games offer the pure experience in a particularly short time.

In other words, slots give you maximum thrills in a short enough time that you can play several times, even if you just have a few spare minutes. Slots games have also grown in complexity, with numerous features that make each spin a unique experience.

Read more: Beyond Slots: Awesome Games Online You May Be Missing

Bitcoin and the Online Casino

Many online casino games are really just digital versions of the same games as played in real casinos. Even slots games, which offer so much creativity and diversity, started as digital versions of the one-arm bandits that appeared in pubs and casinos for years. In that way, the online casino has a lot in common with Bitcoin, which is just an online version of money. 

And just like with the online casino, there are those who believe that bitcoin is the next stage of evolution that will eventually replace the older version, and there are others who firmly believe that the traditional way of doing things will remain alongside the new way. 

Read more: Online Casino and the Bitcoin

Online vs Real Casino

For people who really love casino games. we are living in a golden age. Never in history have there been so many ways to play games of chance for real money. Real casinos have never been so inviting. The number and quality on online games are growing every week, and the level of innovation and creativity in the online casino is already truly breathtaking.

Read more: Online Games vs. Real Casino Games

How to Best Enjoy your Online Casino

Whether you are a regular at the casino online or an occasional guest, you probably want every visit to be as optimal as possible. Here are some tips for the most you can every time to come to Thunderbolt Casino to play.

Read more: Getting the Most out of Your Online Casino

Casino Taxes

One of the issues involved in the regulation of online casino gambling is whether to impose a tax on both casino profits and platers’ winnings and what the tax rate should be.  This is a serious issue that involves basic concepts of economic incentive and competition. The issue gets in the news in some form or another almost every week.  We recently saw that Kenya had reduced its gambling tax by 50% to the much more competitive 15% tax rate.

Read more: Taxes Present Extensive Conundrum to Regulators

SA Inventions

Throughout this month, one South African based online casino has asked its many players to take a moment from playing the casino’s fun online games and salute the inventions and discoveries that were made by South African inventors and researchers. 

Read more: The Future is Bright in the New South Africa

Mobile Gambling

A recent study has found that young people in many developing African nations are increasingly using their mobile devices to play online games including online casino games and are transferring money with which to play those games via their mobile devices.  Whilst this may seem to be an obvious result of the economic gains made in these countries, it also has socio-economic and cultural ramifications.

Read more: Developing African Economies May be Generate a Gambling Habit

African smartphone use up

Even as South Africa continues to make it difficult for its citizens to gamble at a casino online, Africa is emerging as the next great area for the expansion of online casinos and online gaming.  There are several pertinent reasons that this is so.

Read more: Africa is Entering an Era of Economic Growth

Winnie Mandela Laid to Rest

During the deepest years of Apartheid, when even a mild protest against the regime was a serious gamble, not in the innocuous way that we like to play online casino games, but in a frightening real world way, Winnie and Nelson Mandela were the symbols of the struggle for freedom for the millions of oppressed South Africans.

This past week, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was laid to rest in a state funeral in Orlando Stadium in Soweto attended by tens of thousands and watched on television by tens of millions around the world.

Read more: Winnie Mandela Eulogized Before Millions

Asian and African markets grow

The history of gambling tells us that people have gambling for millennia.  At first, they gambled on foot races, horse races, camel races, boxing, and many other sporting pursuits.  Jump ahead millennia and we find that people have found games to bet on.  Some are actual sporting contests whilst others are self-contained games provided by what became known as casinos.  Finally, jump ahead a century and we find casino games being offered at online casinos.

Read more: Asia and Africa Cited as Potentially Huge Online Casino Markets

Casino Equipment Costs

One of the unsung aspects of the gaming industry, both online and at land based casinos, is how do all those casino games get there?  We just take for granted that at an online casino there is no waiting and at land based casinos there are banks of slots games plus tables for all of the classic table games.  Where do they all come from?

A recent report on the next five years of casino gaming included South Africa as one of the African nations that will experience large scale growth in their land based casino industry and that many companies that supply casino gaming equipment will look to compete for South African business.  The niche that is involved here is formally known as the Global Casino Gaming Equipment Consumption Market.

Read more: The Costs of New and Replacement Casino Equipment

SA to tax cryptocurrencies

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is the tax authority in the country.  It issued a “reminder” to all South Africans that they have to report all cryptocurrency transactions as part of their annual tax filing.  Cryptocurrencies are not considered legal tender in South Africa but that hasn’t stopped the tax authority from requiring taxpayers to report their use of such currencies in online transactions. 

Cryptocurrencies exist only digitally so the new provision makes online transactions in such currencies as bitcoin subject to taxation.  This will have an effect on all manner of internet commerce in South Africa including the increasing use of bitcoins in online casino gaming.

Read more: SA Government to Tax Cryptocurrencies

Sun International

A perfect case in point regarding the vicissitudes of the casino business has recently taken place as Sun International, which runs almost half of the land based casinos in South Africa, has begun to downscale its operations in the wake of disappointing returns on investment.  Some of the down trend for Sun International properties may be traced to the increasing popularity of online games, but most of the fall-off in business has to do with the company over-extending itself around the world.

Sun International plans on closing two casinos in the South American country of Columbia—the Sun Nao Casino and the Fish River Sun Casino.  It will close two casinos in Panama, the former Trump Ocean Club and the International VIP Business Casino.  It will also close an International VIP Business Club Casino in South Africa.

Read more: Sun International Sells Properties to Help Pay Off Massive 150 Million Dollar Debt

Glamping in SA

You love the great outdoors but hate the thought of squeezing into a two-man tent.  Going without a comfy mattress or finding out the hard way that you don’t have piping hot cappuccino, latte or macchiato available on-demand, like you may at a swanky casino resort, may be a bridge too far for you and your BFF.

Let’s face it, back ache, moer coffee, warm wine and frigid early mornings far outweigh the benefits of a gorgeous sunrise or sunset in a wild uninhabited space.  Fortunately glamping has changed all that.  You can now enjoy all the creature comforts of home in spectacular natural surroundings where eagles soar overhead and dung beetles do really good damage limitation!

Read more: Find the Best Glamping Sites in the Western Cape!

Poker in SA

Poker has long been one of the most popular casino games both at land based casinos and at online casinos.  Many casinos have a dedicated poker room with as few as one table on up to ten or so tables.  South African casinos add poker tables often; today there are over fifty poker tables spread across the country.

Read more: Poker is Becoming as Well Known in SA as Safari

Ball Tampering Scandal

Of course, there is a world of difference between casino online games and cricket.  Possibly the single biggest difference is that online casinos cannot cheat at their games. 

The scandal engulfing the world of cricket has made online gaming seem to be at least one redoubt that game enthusiasts can play without concerning themselves about the honesty of the games themselves.

Read more: Ball Tampering Scandal is Impossible at Online Casinos

Online Casino Demographics

Whether you play at an online casino or at a land based casino, the casino proprietors would like to know more about you.  At an online casino, it’s relatively easy to learn about the players because every action a player takes is recorded and connected to that player’s account.  Online casinos do this in order to avoid misunderstandings or disagreements between the casino and a player.

It’s much harder to figure out who, what, where, when, and how about players at land based casinos.

Read more: Online Casinos Have Demographic Benefit over Land Based Casinos

SA casino tourism

In a long awaited action to implement the Yamoussoukro Declaration which, in 1988, committed 44 African nations to open up the skies for freer air travel within the continent, the African Union established the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).  The purpose of SAATM is to dramatically lower air travel costs within Africa as a whole and within individual countries as well.  Amongst the many business segments thought to benefit greatly are urban tourism and playing casino games at land based casinos.

Read more: Tourists Set to Save Cash Which Will Become Important Income to Locals

SA cell phone use increases

As the South African economy experienced a recession in the first three quarters of 2017, one sector rose by some 21%: the smartphone sector.  There are several lessons to be learnt from this anomalous behavior in a country that was in the economic doldrums most of the year.  The first lesson we can learn is that the economy was in less a financial malaise than a political depression.  When President Jacob Zuma resigned and was replaced by the newly elected Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African economy began to become rejuvenated virtually overnight.  South Africans showed that they still had enough money to buy an expensive “toy”.  And the online casino market will surely boom with the use of the new smartphones by gamers playing mobile casino games.

Read more: In Spite of Short Recession Smartphone Sales in South Africa Rose 21% in 2017

SA Economy

The final report on the South African economy for 2017 is in and the economy performed much better than most observers expected.  Some of the growth was fueled by South Africans increasingly playing online games for money but most came about in the smaller areas such as consumer spending, business start ups, and general euphoria after the resignation of former President Jacob Zuma and the beginning of the presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa. 

In fact, the era of good political and economic news generated by the presidential transition and the real world policies of new President Ramaphosa have created what is being called “Ramaphoria”.

Read more: Growth in South African Economy will Fuel a Expanding Middle Class

Horse Racing in South Africa

South African based Phumelela Gaming and Leisure has partnered with Kiron Interactive and horse racing interests in Britain and Ireland, represented by GBI Racing, to develop a new satellite-based fixed odds betting venue which will take bets on featured live horse races from Ireland, Britain, and South Africa and virtual races provided by Kiron.

The new horse racing channel is called Racing World. It will meet a felt need in South Africa in particular and throughout the continent as well where online games are widely available but horse racing, although extremely popular, is less widely disseminated for spectator enjoyment and betting.

Read more: Satellite Based Channel for Horse Racing comes to SA!

Roulette

We recently received a query from a long-time player who asked simply, “I know that roulette is one of the most popular casino games at land based casinos.  Why is it less popular at online casinos?”

This question gives us a great opportunity to reintroduce roulette to the online casino gaming public.  Everyone knows that slots are the most popular game at online casinos.  Slots rely heavily on graphics, animation, and sound and these three technologies continue to develop and improve with each generation of computer software.

Read more: Roulette Has a Great Pedigree as the Game of the Rich

MOCAA in Cape Town

Despite the ongoing water crisis, Cape Town is one of the best places to visit during a South African holiday.  The city has a number of land based casinos for your gaming pleasure but we recommend you spend your casino gaming time at our online casino and spend the rest of your time exploring Cape Town.

Read more: Meet the Zeitz-Museum of Contemporary Art Africa

Scary RTG Slots

Realtime Gaming (RTG) is known for producing slick functional online casino games.  Themes are exciting and diverse, animations are pretty spectacular and when the gambling gods are smiling down on you, you can bank plenty of cash.  Aside from the happy snappy slots featuring mermaids, elves and lucky leprechauns there’s a suite of scary RTG video slots designed to create a frisson of fear in players.

If you’re looking for an entertaining way to unleash waves of cortisol in the brain - that human fear hormone that creates the fight or flight response - sign up at Thunderbolt casino and click on one or more of the scariest RTG slots around:

Read more: 4 Scary RTG Video Slots That’ll Make Your Blood Run Cold!

SA National Gaming Board

As the recently concluded conference in India reiterated, the integrity of all aspects of gambling is the key to maintaining public confidence that gambling is fair and safe.  Coupling the highest level of integrity in the honesty of all gambling opportunities with the growing number of families in South Africa with enough money left over to use it gambling, the gambling industry looks forward to continued growth in the near future.

Read more: SA National Gambling Board Encourages Slots Integrity

Conference in India

Eventus International, a company based in South Africa that specializes in developing, producing, and running international conferences on primarily sports and gaming-oriented subjects, recently concluded a successful conference in Goa, India called the Sports Betting and Gaming India Conference (SBGI).

One of the highlights of the conference was a presentation on the importance of a growing middle class on gaming generally, sports betting and casino gambling in particular.  When a working class family becomes a middle class family, it has more disposable income and more free time.  Both of these can translate into more gaming and gambling if the activities are marketed as aspects of an overall entertainment budget.

Read more: SA Firm Leads Wide-Ranging Gambling Conference in India

Thunderbolt Bonuses

The best return on investment has to be asset accumulation without the cash outlay.  That means you can beef up your worldly wealth without dipping into your wallet.  It’s the kind of investment we’d all go gaga about... but sadly in the real world of stocks, shares and financial trading, getting anything for nothing is just a fantasy.

But before you get misty eyed and slack in the jaw with disappointment, there is a way to boost your bankroll for free.  We’re talking about online casino bonuses of course...and at Thunderbolt you’ve stumbled upon a bonus bonanza.

Read more: Cash-In On a Bonus Bonanza Now!

Jackie Chan Slots

Realtime Gaming (RTG) is hell bent on giving us action packed super slots featuring the king of Kung Fu.  Following hot on the heels of Fantasy Mission Force slot is yet another Jackie Chan inspired money spinner based on the low budget cult movie, Eagle Shadow Fist aka Return to China.

This time a very young Chan plays Si To, a lithe and acrobatic member of a circus-based résistance army that’s formed in response to the Japanese invasion of China in World War II.  He together with the decidedly bad ass Tang - played by Hao Li - and the renowned female martial artist Qiu Yuen are the key characters in the movie... and on the reels of the 5 reel and 25 payline Eagle Shadow Fist slot.

Read more: Jackie Chan Takes Top Billing on RTG Slots

SA sports betting increasing

The South African National gambling Board (NGB) reported late last year that land based casinos still generate the most money in the broad gambling industry but that in the fiscal year covered by the report, land based casinos had actually lost revenue. 

In other words, land based casinos are still at the top of the gambling pyramid in South Africa but they are losing ground to other gambling opportunities.  We can imagine all the other gambling opportunities that may or may not have made inroads in the hegemonic leadership of land based casinos.  Online games, LPM (Low Payout Machines), lotteries, and sports betting are all growing and present a strong challenge to the leadership of the land based casinos.

Read more: Sports Betting May Challenge Online Casinos Soon in Popularity

Cape Town Events

If you’re finding the golden beaches, boutique wineries and pubs and clubs of Cape Town a bit of a bore, there’s a packed events schedule in March that’ll make you love the Mother city more and more.  There are festivals, carnivals and all-night parties; horse races, cycle races and gallery events... plus a smattering of cultural stuff designed for the more ‘high brow’.

So if you’re into entertainment with a capital ‘E’, make your way to the dazzling jewel of the Western Cape and party long and hard... or until you drop.  To ensure you get the best out of Cape Town as summer slowly draws to a close, here are five sizzling festivals and events destined to make a March Hare or Mad Hatter out of you!

Read more: Best Cape Town Events March: Boogie, Bubbly & Carnival!

Online Casino Legalities Update

The future of online casino gambling in South Africa remains murky.  The National Gambling Board (NGB) frequently tries to remind South Africans that online gambling is illegal in the country.  The NGB released a long study in 2016 that detailed the odd circumstance that finds online casino gambling in South Africa to be both illegal and thriving.

The board also reminds people who are flouting the law that the fine for gambling online may be as high as R10 million with an accompanying jail sentence of up to ten years.  Nevertheless, online gambling in South Africa continues to grow, many gambling sites cater to South Africans by accepting Rand, and online casinos regularly add to the list of banking methods South Africans can avail themselves of. 

Read more: Little Has Changed Two Years after the NGB Report on Online Casino Gambling

Cape Town Water Crisis

There is an interesting correlation between the unfolding and ongoing water crisis in Cape Town and the concept of gambling, especially responsible gambling.  In short, the city and people of Cape Town have been gambling with their water supply for years in much the same way that a problem gambler gambles with money he or she cannot afford to lose.

Read more: Cape Town Eyes Millions of Litres of Water per Day Regardless of Concerns

SA Travel - North of Pretoria

South Africans sometimes say that an Aussie who wants to go off the beaten track in Australia has only to walk a few kilometers and he’ll be in the Outback.  It’s not so simple in South Africa.  In this second installment of our off the beaten track in South Africa series we’ll leave the coasts entirely and head north from Pretoria.

We recommend driving on Old Warmbaths Road.  It’s much more interesting than driving on N1.  You’ll see many out of the way attractions from shops to the amazing things Nature has done with the landscape.   However, to start your trip head northwest on M35 for a short distance to the Tswaing Meteorite Crater, Museum, and Nature Reserve.

Read more: Off the Beaten Track in South Africa - Part 2

Play Like a Poker Pro

You’ve heard about the World Series of Poker, the European Poker Tour and the Aussie Millions?  And you’ve surely heard of the poker players who walk away from the final tables with serious amounts of hard cash.  Some are pure poker pros who spend their time trawling the globe for live poker events... and others are ordinary Joes, like you and I, who get their ticket to the big time through online qualifiers.

So what’s stopping you from cracking open the live poker treasure chest?  Confidence, low self esteem or are you simply out of your depth?  Well if you want to stand in line behind dudes like Toby Lewis, Scott Blumstein and Eric Afriat, poker buffs who have won serious coinage in the past few months, there are ways and means of refining your game plan.

Read more: Crack Open the Live Poker Treasure Chest

Bitcoin Casino Account

Bitcoin (BTC) is a newsmaker, heart breaker and a cryptocurrency destined to keep on giving... to those who wait.  It’s the apex predator of virtual coinage and once all the dust has settled it will become the currency of choice - at shabby chic stores, fast food emporiums and high end online casinos just like ours.  BTW - at Thunderbolt Casino we’re ahead of the game as Bitcoin is already splashed all over our banking page!

In the USA and Canada there are ATMS spewing out BTC as we speak.  Down Under you can replenish your wallet at one of 15 Australian Bitcoin exchanges.  Right here in the deep south of the African continent you can exchange ZAR for Bitcoin in a snap on virtual currency trading platforms like IceCUBED X, CryptoChange, Remitano and more!

Read more: Use Bitcoin at the Online Casino!

Thunderbolt Casino February Bonuses

February is the month of love.  It’s a time for kissing and getting all misty-eyed about that special someone in your life.  It’s a time when fresh new romances blossom and more mature lovers dance to the tune of ‘maybe, should we, could we’ commitment... now and forever more! 

To celebrate the power, accuracy and sustained singularity of Cupid’s little bow, we’ve decided to spread the love with a few commitments of our own.  So before you blow off the online entertainment to focus on love and love alone, make a mental note of our gifts to you. 

Read more: February Promotions: Thunderbolt Spreads the Loooove Around 

Fantasy Mission Force & Fu Chi RTG Slots

Big wins, higher than average RTPs and a flurry of cash generating slots features are standard February fare at Thunderbolt Casino.  This month and every month you’re invited to dip into a selection of smokin’ hot RTG multiline slots games fresh from the production lines.

As can be expected from the gaming gurus who launched real cash random activated jackpots, brand new titles are saturated with multiple payout opportunities, big bold bonuses and great gaming features.  Factor in fab themes based on classic cult movies and astronomical events and there’s E for entertainment available directly at your fingertips!  

So whether you’re an Aussie, Canadian, Kiwi or South African or reside in London, Hong Kong or Macau, there are a couple of Far Eastern RealTime Gaming slots that are simple baying for your attention:

Read more: Fantasy Mission Force and Fu Chi RTG Slots

Best Online Blackjack

If blackjack is your game, Thunderbolt casino is your new gambling destination...at home, in the office, on the train or chilling out in the park.  Where ever you are and at any time of the night or day you’ve got unrestricted access to a suite of RTG blackjack games... some straight up and conventional and others featuring sassy rules, big bonus pays and precocious little side bets.

Notwithstanding your location or gambling device, you’ll have crystal clear visuals of the blackjack table where the cards are dealt and the hands played with super smooth symmetry.  You can place a bet with a click or a tap; hit, stand, double down or surrender and scoop up the virtual coinage as and when you hit blackjack.....or your hand wins.

Read more: Online Blackjack Variants Available Now

SpaceX

On February 6, SpaceX, the space exploration company founded by Elon Musk, launched a triple-rocket, called The Falcon Heavy, into space.  The rocket is expected to fly past Mars and head into the asteroid belt.  After the two boosters deployed the center rocket further into space, they returned to the launch pad and landed, making this the first space launch in which boosters have returned successfully to Cape Canaveral.  You can view the entire, exciting event here.

Read more: SpaceX Pull off A Great Rocket Launch

safari in South Africa

So much has been written about the most common travel experiences in South Africa.  We decided to begin a series of articles on lesser-known places and exciting tourist destinations both for travelers from outside the country and also for South Africans.

Read more: Announcing a New Blog Series: Off the Beaten Track in South Africa

Robot In Vegas

Robots have become so popular for business use that they already have a nickname: bots.  Manufacturers began using robots several decades ago.  The first robots were large “industrial arms” that did the work that two humans couldn’t do.

Read more: Robots Even in Vegas

Charity Raffles in South Africa

Dozens of charities in all areas of South Africa run charity draws and sweepstakes to facilitate fundraising activities. These include raffles, lotteries, bingo parties, games and other gaming endeavors.

Read more: How Do You Create a Charity Raffle in South Africa?

Spend Money Wisely in  South Africa

During the festive season, as it does every year, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) warned South Africans to watch their money carefully.  This advice covers spending for holiday gifts, spending for purely personal enjoyment such as high end restaurants or travel, and, perhaps, especially, when revelers want to gamble on anything from sports to slots to other casino games.

Read more: How to Spend Money Wisely

android casino

The mobile casino industry has been growing rapidly over the past few years, and one of the most important innovations to date has been the development of optimized Android mobile casino websites. These sites were in the pipeline for quite a long time, but have only recently begun to realize their full potential.

Read more: Your Android Mobile Casino Guide

online casino bonus guide

Thunderbolt Online Casino Bonus Guide

Each casino offers its own unique bonuses that are designed to encourage players to come to "that" casino. Some casinos give a Welcome bonus, others offer Rewards Points or Loyalty Points and others give bonus give-aways based on the day of the week, the week of the month or the season of the year.

Thunderbolt casino delivers all of these bonuses plus more to ensure that Thunderbolt gamers will experience the most lucrative gaming event through online gambling activities. You can read the online casino bonus guide for the Thunderbolt casino to get an overview of how Thunderbolt players enjoy the most rewarding gaming event with the top industry payouts.

Read more: Thunderbolt Online Casino Bonus Guide

Casino Banking Guide

When you open an account at the Thunderbolt Casino you have your choice of multiple banking options that allow you to conduct your casino transactions easily in a way that fits your personal needs. This Thunderbolt Banking casino guide gives you a full overview of everything that you need to know when you're playing for real money prizes.

Read more: Thunderbolt Casino Banking Guide

online casino guide

For Basic Information Read Our Online Casino Guide

This is a general online casino guide.  We hope you find it useful whether you are a new player or a veteran one.  Whichever, we hope you stay and play right here at Thunderbolt.

Read more: Online Casino Guide from the Thunderbolt Blog

Thunderbolt mobile casino games

The Mobile Revolution: How Mobile Casino Games Changed The Gaming Industry For Good

Casinos have always been known for staying ahead of the curve when it came to technology, and the development of the mobile casino game is the prime example of this phenomenon. However, something you may not realize is that the casino industry has a long and illustrious history of technological advancement. Read on to learn more about the tech innovation that has driven the success of the casino, as well as a look into the future of gaming: bitcoin mobile casino games.

Read more: The Mobile Casino Game Changed The Gaming Industry

online casino games guide

Follow Our Online Casino Games Guide and Become Proficient in No Time

As a new player at an online casino, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the large number of games on offer.  This online casino games guide will help you get a better feel for what any recommended online casino has to offer.

The term “best casino games” is so subjective that we hesitate to use it.  But we can try to steer you in the direction of either the best casino games for beginners and/or the best casino game to win money.

Read more: Good Online Casino Games Guide

neteller to bitcoin

Converting Cash from Neteller to Bitcoin

We’ve all heard about Bitcoin. This payment method became public in 2008, but people were hesitant about using it at first. However, in recent years this cryptocurrency became more popular and nowadays, it is being used freely by people all around the world.

Since Bitcoin is an electronic currency, you can use it in one of two ways: either you exchange it for other currencies, or trade it for goods and services. To do that, you have to own a Bitcoin account that will allow you to deposit and withdraw cash however you see fit.

Read more: Neteller to Bitcoin – All Your Payment Options

instant play casinos

Instant Play Casinos – Gambling Online

If you love to gamble every once in a while, if you want to feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins on a regular basis, and to have fun without holding back, you know that there is nothing as important as having an accessible gambling venue at arm’s length at all times.

Once you create an account at this casino or another, you are left with an important choice to make: how are you going to gamble when you have the time for it?

Most casinos, much like the Thunderbolt casino, allow you to access all the games and promos in three ways: the downloaded casino software, the mobile app, and of course – the instant play casino platform.

Read more: Gamble at instant play casinos?

online casino games

Regardless of whether you're a traditional casino game enthusiast or you prefer the excitement of action-filled slots, lotteries and variety games, you'll find all the top online casino games at the Thunderbolt casino of South Africa.

Thunderbolt offers something for everyone. You can find slow-paced three-reel slot machines, interactive video slots, quick-win lotteries and the classic casino games of Monte Carlo and Las Vegas. Everything is online which means that you can play your preferred online casino games South African at your leisure.

Read more: The Best Online Casino Games - Thunderbolt Casino

Thunderbolt Online Casino

R10,000 at Thunderbolt Online Casino - for All New Players

Casino gambling in South Africa has been legal since 1994. Until recently, gambling at the casino involved travel, accommodations expenses, finding tables with limits that fit your budget and other barriers. Now you can enjoy casino gaming y clicking into the online casino of South Africa where you can play at your leisure.

Read more: Play at Thunderbolt - SA's BEST Online Casino

Thunderbolt Mobile Casino

From traditional casino games of poker and blackjack to fun-filled slots play, specialty games, lotteries and more, the Thunderbolt mobile casino will provide you with all of your gaming needs as it meets your expectations for the best gaming entertainment possible. 

The Thunderbolt South African casino specializes in offering gaming entertainment to all players throughout the country.

Read more: Thunderbolt Mobile Casino Platform

mobile casino bonuses

R1000 Mobile Casino Bonus at Thunderbolt!

Hundreds of games, exciting bonuses, and lots of surprises – wouldn’t you want to gain access to all those sources of entertainments at all times of the day?

Read more: Weekly R1000 Mobile Casino Bonuses at the Thunderbolt Casino!

Casino Bonus

Get R10,000 in Thunderbolt Casino Bonuses

Place your bets, get ready, set, and go! There is nothing as fun and as exciting as online gambling can be with the help of a few chosen real money casino bonuses.

Read more: Get a R10,000 Thunderbolt Casino Bonus Right NOW!

Real Money Casino Bonus

R10000 Real Money Casino Bonus for New Thunderbolt Members

Read more: Real Money Casino Bonus

casino payments

Thunderbolt Casino Payments Options

There are many words associated with online gambling: fun, exciting, challenging, and… risky.

Read more: All About Making Thunderbolt Casino Payments!