Best Online Sports Betting Sites in South Africa 2024

For a sports-mad country like South Africa, betting on events and favourite teams has always been a popular pastime. Retail sports betting is a huge industry, but some of the best sportsbook options are found online at sports betting South African-licensed sites. Thanks to mobile technology South Africans can also bet on the go on their smartphones and tablets.

But how do you know how to look for the best online sports betting sites in SA?

This page has been put together to show you how to choose the ideal betting site for you. It presents a list of some of the best sites that have been reviewed by our experienced team, so that you know if an online or mobile bookie is the right fit for you. Our team gives you an honest and completely unbiased view of the whole package – ZAR payment options, bonuses, payouts, customer support and mobile options, to name just a few parameters.

This page also examines some of the legal aspects of online betting, to put your mind at ease.

If you want to know everything there is to know about South African sports betting, read on!

1

Up to R3,500 + 50 Free Spins Welcome Bonus
Currencies Available

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ZAR

2

Free Bet up to 150% on the First Deposit + First Day Stake 25% Return
Currencies Available

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ZAR

3

Currencies Available

Currencies

4

R50 Free Signup Bonus + Bonus up to R5000 over 1st, 2nd and 3rd Deposits
Currencies Available

Currencies

GHS

5

100% Match Bonus up to R1,000
Currencies Available

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ZAR

6

125% Match Bonus up to R2210
Currencies Available

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ZAR

7

50 Free Spins on Wheel of Fortune + Up to R15,000 Welcome Bonus
Currencies Available

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ZAR

8

Wild Cashback Bonus
Currencies Available

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ZAR

9

20 Free Spins
Currencies Available

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ZAR

10

100% 1st Deposit Bonus & 75 Free Spins
Currencies Available

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AUD

Bonuses and Promotions available at South African Sports Betting Sites

One of the biggest perks of betting online is the opportunity to benefit from the wide range of bonuses and promotions available to you. Wherever you are in your sports betting journey, you will always find a bonus that is geared to you.

Betting sites will try and entice you with rewarding sign-up bonuses if you’re new to their platform. Existing users can look beyond the welcome bonuses to find specific offers for them.

And there are always event-specific promos that change on a regular basis, depending on the sporting event and time of the year.

It’s important to look beyond the marketing hype of each offer and read the small print. This is to make sure that you’re getting a fair and attainable deal. Our team is always on the lookout to find good, safe and fair bonuses and promotions for SA sports bettors.

Welcome Bonuses: An online sports betting site welcomes you with a bonus upon sign up and your first deposit. Your deposit is matched with a certain percentage, so that more often than not, it is doubled. A good example of a welcome offer is a 100% match bonus up to R2,000. Ideally, if you make a maximum deposit, you’ll have R4,000 to bet with!

No Deposit Bonuses/Free Bets: Sometimes a betting site allows you to try out its platform for free, without the need to make a deposit. Simply sign up and get free credits to test the site! This is the perfect opportunity to check the odds and software without spending your own money initially. And your winnings are yours to keep!

Cash-Back Offers: You’re not always going to be on a winning streak at the sports betting site. But even when this happens, some of your bankroll will always be kept secure with cashback/money-back offers. The online sports betting site will promise you a certain percentage of your losses back (eg. 20%), so that a portion is always credited back to your account.

Other Types of Bonuses: When a big sporting event rolls around, you can bet that you will find plenty of promotions and specials centred on it! Betting sites also run weekday and weekend specials, while they’ll also reward players for referring acquaintances to the platform.

How Sports Betting Works in South Africa

Sports betting is huge in South Africa and it’s estimated that the market will be worth more than R11 billion by 2023. South African players have multiple choices of what to bet on, including local and international events, from the most popular to the most mundane. The main betting activities in SA are number/lottery-type draws and live sports.

South Africans can also bet in different ways, from walking into a traditional retail outlet to signing up to an online sports betting site and playing at mobile sports betting sites.

Online Sports Betting vs Live Betting

Online Sports Betting Online Live Betting
Definition: Placing a bet on the outcome of a sports event online. The site posts the odds and players place their bets. After the event, they check to see if they’re a winner and get paid out. Definition: Similar to online sports betting (see definition). The difference is that bets are placed while the game is being played out. Live Betting can be offered on sports such as soccer, tennis, horse-racing, rugby and cricket.
Odds calculated according to risk associated with the event (eg. the chances of England winning the World Cup). Odds are calculated according to two types of Live Betting – in-game betting and in-play betting In-game betting – Betting while the game is happening. Odds change regularly, usually during breaks or timeout. In-play betting – Odds change extremely fast, usually after every play/possession. Bets are best made via mobile device.

Other Online Betting & Gambling Options

You can find a range of betting activities at online sports betting sites – and not all of them involve sports! If you feel like taking a break from sports betting but you still want to grab some rewards, check out the other online betting and gambling options available to you.

Esports

Believe it or not, betting on video games competitions is a thing. Place your bets on which individual/team is likely to win the match or event.

Lucky Numbers

You’ll find that most sportsbooks cover international and local lotteries. You will simply bet on the numbers drawn and get paid out accordingly.

BetGames

You can bet on high-frequency racing games at sports betting South African sites, with a huge range of bet types and amounts on offer.

Live Games More Sports Betting

When you want to be part of the sports action, there is no better way to bet than on in-game outcomes. The best part is that you can choose events happening locally or around the world at any given time and enjoy live betting lines.

Most Popular SA Sports to bet on

Practically every popular – and not so popular – sport is covered by South African sports betting platforms. These are the sports that you will most definitely find odds for at the best South African sports betting sites.

Soccer

The most-watched sport in the world is soccer (football). It stands to reason that South Africans will place bets on the Premier Division and main cup events, as well as international competitions such as the World Cup. Types of soccer bets are numerous and include three-way money-liners, backing the double chance and many more.

Racing

South Africans love betting on formal horse races, including on the three main races that take place each year – the Summer Cup, the J&B Met and the Durban July. Horse racing has been a popular pastime since the last 1700’s, and today is considered a multi-million rand industry. Players can bet on local races, or the hundreds of international competitions that run each year.

Rugby

Rugby is popular throughout the world, but it has a special place in the heart of all South Africans. The famous green and gold of the Boks is enough to send anyone running to bet on a rugby game in a minute. Of course, rugby isn’t reserved only for South Africa and there are many games that take place all the time, all over the globe.

Other

Whatever your preference, you are sure to find your favourite sports to bet on at sports betting sites.

Some of the most popular ones include:

  • Tennis
  • Cricket
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • Golf
  • Athletics
  • Boxing
  • Motorsport
  • Basketball
  • Triathlon

SA Sports Betting Deposit and Withdrawal Methods

When you open an account at a SA sports betting site, one of the first things that you’ll be required to do is make a deposit. For that purpose, you’ll want to choose a banking method that is safe, convenient and South African-friendly.

The best sports betting sites are those that offer a range of banking methods that meet all these requires and more.

In the same vein, the site should provide players with a selection of withdrawal methods that allow quick access to winnings, are discreet and very secure.

It goes without saying that South African sportsbooks should accept a range of currencies, with an obvious one being ZAR (Rands).

Most sports betting sites offer:

  • Debit cards
  • Credit cards
  • Bank transfers
  • Easy EFT
  • SID Instant EFT
  • Skrill (formerly Moneybookers)
  • ecoPayz
  • Neteller
  • Bitcoin

Mobile Sports Betting in South Africa

Gone are the days that South Africans have to physically head to a retail sportsbook to place a bet on their favourite events. The shift of sports betting to the internet created an entire new and lucrative industry, and the natural transition of that was to mobile sports betting.

Bring all the action and excitement of live betting to wherever you happen to be, thanks to the last word in mobile technology.

All the odds for the most popular sports are available right at your fingertips. Open an account at the casino using your mobile device, or you can do so online from your desktop PC. The same account can be used over both platforms.

Once you have signed into your account, you can use your mobile sports betting app to make a deposit, claim bonuses and promotions, withdraw winnings, speak to customer support and make bets.

Mobile Betting Apps

While most sports betting sites allow you to access their platform from your mobile browser, South Africans prefer to play on dedicated apps for faster, smoother navigation and an entirely mobile-friendly experience. In-play betting, especially, is much more enjoyable when using a mobile app.

Android device users: Visit the Google Play store, choose the mobile sportsbook of your choice and download it fast and free onto your Galaxy Nexus, Google Pixel or any other Android-enabled mobile device.

Apple device users: While bookies offer sites that are compatible with Apple devices such as iPads, iPads, etc, betting apps can be downloaded from iTunes for a better experience. You can also find apps available for download at the online betting site.

Sports Betting tips

  • Play responsibly and gamble wisely. Sports betting is all about having fun and any money you make is a perk. Don’t chase your losses or gamble money that you can’t afford to lose. If you feel that you are developing a problem, contact the National Gambling Board Programme 24/7 helpline at 0800-006-008.
  • Start with Small Bets, especially if you’re a beginner. It takes time to learn winning strategies and your bankroll is limited.
  • Become really good in one sport. While there are many sports to bet on, try and bring your real passion for your favourite to your sports betting sessions. The more you know about the team or individual that you’re betting on, the more chance you have of picking a winner.
  • Play at safe recommended sites. Check out our list of licensed, secure and South African-friendly sports betting sites.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does sports betting work?

Bookmakers establish markets on different outcomes during a sports event, such as a soccer match or a tennis tournament. Odds are set before the event takes place, and they can change before or during the event. Players make bets on these odds, with their returns being their stake multiplied by the odds. The higher the odds, the larger your potential profit if you win.

Is Sports Betting Legal in South Africa?

Yes it is. South Africans can place bets at licensed bookmakers, at retail locations or online.

How to win at sports betting in South Africa?

Get to know the sports you are betting on very well to help you make educated bets; gamble wisely so that you minimize your losses; stick to safe, recommended sports betting sites.

How do I check sports betting results, tips and fixtures?

All sports betting results, tips and fixtures are posted at South African sports betting sites.

What bonuses are available for sports betting?

Sports betting fans can take their pick from a large range of bonuses, ranging from no deposit bonuses, welcome bonuses, free bets offers, cashback promotions, loyalty bonuses and bonuses focusing on special sporting events.

What is the difference between live betting and sports betting?

When we say sports betting, it generally means that we’re betting on the outcome of an event before it takes place. In the case of live betting, we are betting right when the game is being played out, with odds updated all the time.

Can I bet on my mobile?

Sure you can. Online sports betting sites can either be played on your mobile browser or via their dedicated mobile apps (which can be downloaded fast and free).