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The Best Betting Sites in South Africa for 2024

Welcome to the ultimate guide to online betting in South Africa. We have compiled a list of the best South African betting sites to help you find your ideal site to bet on sports like football and rugby.

We direct you to the top betting companies operating in SA, explain how to fund your account, and cover everything else you need to get started at South African betting sites.

Best Betting Sites for South Africans – 2024

4.5/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 493 people this week
Up To $1000 Welcome Bonus
Terms and conditions: The bonus code is only valid for a new customer's first deposit and must be redeemed immediately after the deposit and before a wager has been placed. The sum of the deposit and the bonus are subject to rollover requirements of 8x at min. odds of -200 (1.5) before a new bonus can be redeemed or a withdrawal can be made. Max. $1000 of each bet count towards the rollover requirements. Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

VISA
MasterCard
Bank Transfer
Neteller
Paysafecard
Skrill
Bitcoin
+5

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • AUD
  • CAD
  • USD
  • Competitive sign-up and promotional offers
  • Excellent statistics section to aid customers
  • Pain-free deposit options
  • Accepts both high and low limit bettors
  • Lengthy and expensive withdrawal procedure
4.5/5
Rated by 267 users
Claimed by 424 people this week
125% up to $3,125
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
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Payment Options

VISA
MasterCard
Bitcoin
American Express
Moneygram
Ethereum
Litecoin

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • Premier destination for US bettors
  • Racebook covering daily races
  • Esports and virtual sports markets
  • In-depth sports stats and tips
  • Intuitive live betting markets
  • Limited withdrawal options
4.6/5
Rated by 504 users
Claimed by 340 people this week
Get 125% Deposit Boost to bet on sports up to $1250
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
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Payment Options

VISA
MasterCard
Paypal
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Dogecoin
Ripple
+4

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • Deposit and bet using BTC
  • Choose from 25,000+ markets
  • Bet in-play on a huge range of sports
  • Get paid quickly with no fuss
  • Friendly customer support agents
4.57/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 370 people this week
100% Up To $1000
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
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Payment Options

Bitcoin
BitcoinCash
MasterCard
Person to Person
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • LTC
  • USD
  • Generous bonuses and promotions
  • Great range of betting markets
  • Extensive racebook
  • Very good customer service
  • Only a few withdrawal options
  • Fees for withdrawing funds
4.62/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 286 people this week
100% Up to $1000 + $25 casino chip
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

VISA
MasterCard
Bitcoin

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • Trusted by publications such as ESPN
  • Access a dedicated racing section
  • Crypto-friendly sportsbook
  • Adjust odds format and time zone
  • Support options include call back
  • Quite low sportsbook limits
4.5/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 192 people this week
50% Up To $1000
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Cheque
Discover
MasterCard
Neteller
Skrill
+1

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • USD
  • Accepts players from all over the world
  • Known for their live betting offers
  • Lots of secure banking options
  • Great bonuses and promotions
  • High fees for some deposit options
  • Support agents are often slow to reply
4.5/5
Rated by 313 users
Claimed by 177 people this week
50% Up to $250
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Amex
Bitcoin
MasterCard
Rapidtransfer
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • Top-rated US online sportsbook
  • Mobile site for iOS and Android users
  • Diverse range of betting markets
  • Excellent customer support options
  • Lines come out very late in the day
  • Odds not as favorable as other books
4.5/5
Rated by 232 users
Claimed by 251 people this week
15% up to $600
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Amex
Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Cheque
MasterCard
Neteller
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BPS
  • CAD
  • EUR
  • Popular book that accepts large max bets
  • Huge focus on football and basketball
  • High-spec live in-play platform available
  • Downloadable client for Windows & Mac
  • Odds are not amazing on non-US sports
  • User interface could be improved
Flag of South Africa

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Africa?

South Africa has taken a mixed approach to online gambling. The wider industry, covering casinos, poker and bingo, was made illegal in the National Gambling Act of 2004. This included both provision of games and the participation in them. This was re-enforced in 2010 when a High Court judgment decided that games provided by companies based outside South Africa were also illegal.

The good news for sport bettors is betting on horse racing or online sportsbooks is not covered by this ban. You can choose from several domestic or international companies if you wish to bet online, and it is all perfectly legal. All online licenses issued within South Africa are done so by the gambling and racing boards of the nine provinces, the largest being Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.

Horse Racing in South Africa

From 1965, the only legal betting allowed in South Africa was on track betting at horse races. With major races like the Summer Cup in Johannesburg and the Durban July, the ‘sport of kings’ still attracts wealthy South Africans to the 10 major tracks located across the country. Aside from this, other forms of gambling in South Africa were illegal and took place underground.

This changed in 1994, when the first post-apartheid government was elected and voted to legalize all forms of betting activities. This began on 2 March 2000, when the first lottery draw was made, followed by the approval of activities, including sports betting, in 2004. Now, you can find hundreds of betting shops throughout South Africa and even more outlets offering pari-mutuel betting.

Like all legal gambling activities in South Africa, sports betting is governed by the National Gambling Board. With an increase of 71.3%, it was the fastest-growing category for gambling revenues in 2012 and saw an overall increase of 566% between 2008 and 2012.

Football betting is the largest market, followed closely by horse racing betting. The virtual sports market also enjoyed an enormous boost in 2020 when the COVID virus put a halt to many traditional sports.

Only Sports Betting is Legal

You may have heard that sports betting in South Africa is illegal, but that’s not true. In fact, sports betting is the exception to the rule – other forms of gambling are illegal, but there are no restrictions on activities like rugby betting and cricket betting.

When there was some debate about certain casino games being legal or illegal in South Africa, the National Gaming Board clarified things and made it crystal clear that sports betting is 100% legal when they said: “The NGB wishes to make it emphatically clear that the answer to whether online or interactive gambling is legal in South Africa, is a simple and unequivocal NO with the exception of online sports betting.”

Wooden gavel and map of South Africa

Accessing the Best South African Betting Sites

Apart from the domestic South African sites, no betting site offers the Afrikaans language, although nearly all sites offer English. A similar situation applies with the rand, as no non-South African site allows you to hold balances or make bets in South Africa’s official currency.

Because of this, finding the best online betting sites in South Africa is important for players like you. Some of the most popular places for pre-match and live betting include Hollywoodbets, Betway, Sportingbet, and Sunbet. Here’s a bit more about them:

Hollywoodbets

Hollywoodbets

Also known as Hollywood Sportsbook, Hollywoodbets is a major brand which employs over 5,000 employees and operates not only in South Africa but also in the UK, Ireland and Mozambique. One special touch is that they provide horse racing and football betting tips.

Betway

Betway

Online betting in South Africa is easy with Betway, another major brand recognised around the world. From Super Rugby betting and competitive odds on annual events like the Six Nations to its leading soccer betting app, it’s easy to see why so many sports bettors place their bets with Betway.

Sportingbet

Sportingbet

Referral bonuses, enhanced odds, deposit bonuses for new players and a boatload of virtual sports are some reasons Sportingbet has become one of the top South African betting sites. If you bet a lot on your mobile, check out the site’s excellent sports betting app.

Sunbet

Sunbet

Sunbet isn’t quite as well known internationally as our other suggested sites, but this South African betting site has plenty to offer, including rugby, horse racing and esports betting markets. Head over to their blog to find the latest cricket betting tips and soccer betting tips.

South Africa fan playing vuvuzela

Depositing at Sports Betting Sites in South Africa

You can deposit in rand (ZAR) and have your balance converted to US dollars or Euros, although the value of your account between depositing and withdrawing may vary slightly due to exchange rates.

For many sports bettors in South Africa, e-wallets are the easiest option for deposits and withdrawals. These online payment companies make it easy for you to deposit and withdraw quickly and cheaply from different sites.

In South Africa, NETELLER cards and Skrill are among the current market leaders. Visa and MasterCard are also widely accepted, although MasterCard does not always allow you to process withdrawals, requiring you instead to request a cheque or bank transfer.

Here are some of the most popular payment methods you can use in South Africa:

Credit and Debit Cards

Credit and Debit Cards

Credit and debit payments are one of the most familiar ways to make deposits at South African betting sites. Deposits and withdrawals are accepted via Standard Bank Group Ltd, First Rand Ltd and all other major South African banks. Withdrawals usually take a few days longer than e-payments.

Skrill

Skrill

It’s easy to use Skrill in South Africa many types of payments and money transfers, and many of the best sports betting sites in South Africa also list it as an option. You enter a username and password to access your account, just as you would for a regular betting site, making it quick and easy to fund your account.

NETELLER

NETELLER

NETELLER is like a bigger version of ecoPayz. South African betting sites often allow quick and easy electronic payments using NETELLER. And, because international payments are common, it means you can easily use NETELLER whether you’re playing at a local site or one in Europe.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin

Bitcoin sports betting isn’t much of a novelty anymore – it’s becoming increasingly mainstream and is available at a lot of the top sports betting sites in South Africa. Bitcoin is the most common cryptocurrency, but some sites also let you deposit using Ethereum, Litecoin, and more.

The Best Sports Betting Apps for South Africans

Online betting in South Africa is very modern, with a huge proportion of players now preferring to bet on mobile. This is especially true when you consider that only sports betting is legal, and in-play bets are traditionally placed on smartphones.

Android has the more popular product for mobile betting with nearly 90% of the customer base, so if you’re an Android user you’re immediately at an advantage. If you use the same site regularly, you’ll want to consider downloading a sports betting app.

However, if you’re not keen on apps, accessing these same sites via your mobile browser is perfectly fine. Most South African betting sites are mobile optimised, which means the site recognises you’re on a phone or tablet and edits the layout to make things easier for you.

Taxation for South African Sports Bettors

As of May 2012, winnings from recreational betting are not subject to income tax, but the safest option is still to declare winnings to SARS as non-taxable income. If you’re a professional gambler, meaning gambling is your primary source of income, you will be subject to tax. But for most of you, your winnings will not be taxed.

The tax which applies to bettors is a 6% VAT deduction, which applies to all horse racing winnings.

South Africa celebrating 2019 Rugby World Cup win

The Most Popular Sports for Betting in SA

South Africans are major sports fans. This naturally translates into a thriving sports betting industry in South Africa. Here are some of the most popular sports for you to bet on:

Football

Football

For many international fans, the words ‘football’ and ‘South Africa’ send a stark reminder of a certain sound – the vuvuzela! The traditional instrument often played at South African football games really captured attention when South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where the hosts managed an impressive draw with Mexico and beat two-time World Cup Champions France.

The South African Premier Division, also known as the DStv Premiership, is a competitive league which has been around since 1996. You can bet on the domestic competition or international leagues like the English Premier League and La Liga at any top South African betting site.

Rugby

Rugby

From betting on the Rugby World Cup to Super Rugby, there is plenty of action for you to sink your teeth into if you want to place rugby bets from South Africa. Although teams from Australia and New Zealand dominate Super Rugby, South African teams like the Sharks, Stormers and Bulls have won the competition. Of course, you can also bet on events like the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship.

In terms of the national team, South Africa has won three World Cups (1995, 2007, 2019). With rising stars like Tyrone Green, Aphelele Fassi and Lyle Hendricks in their ranks, we expect South Africa to be amongst the favourites to win Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

Cricket

Cricket

South Africa’s national cricket team frequently features in the top slots of the ICC rankings, and with good reason. The Proteas are former winners of the ICC Champions Trophy, and eight-time semi-finalists across major national competitions, including the Cricket World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup, and ICC Champions Trophy.

Moments of controversy haven’t hurt the nation’s passion for cricket, and you can bet on local action in the relatively new Mzansi Super League, which was introduced in 2018.

Horse Racing

Horse Racing

Horse racing is extremely popular at South African betting sites. Until recent years, horse racing was the most popular sport for betting in the country. With eight gorgeous tracks, prestigious competitions like the Summer Cup at Turffontein, and 29 annual Grade 1 races, it’s easy to see why horse racing betting is so important to a lot of you.

You can place bet on all the biggest South African races, plus international races like the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup.

The Future of Sports Betting in South Africa

The National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008 has tried to establish legal online gambling in South Africa, although it has been actively opposed by anti-gambling groups and land-based casinos. The good news is, sports betting is 100% legal in South Africa, as clarified by the National Gaming Board.

While sports betting remains legal, the country’s gambling laws impact which companies can advertise, as many international sites have interests in casino and poker. As the amendment gets worked through different legal stages, there may also be changes to the online landscape in South Africa which may affect online sportsbooks.

Currently, this seems unlikely and a long way off, which means the online sports betting industry in South Africa is free to grow. If your focus is on online sports betting in South Africa, and not casino games, then you’ve got nothing to worry about.

FAQs

What’s the best betting site in South Africa?

There are lots of sites which offer a terrific experience for sports betting in South Africa. You can find the best of them listed on this page. Each site has been scrutinised by our experts and only the most complete, reliable sites make the cut.

What’s the best football betting site?

Football betting is the most popular form of sports betting in South Africa, so you will have plenty of betting opportunities at any site you join. Check out our top picks on this page to find South African betting sites with a wide selection of markets at competitive odds.

Can I get free bets in South Africa?

You’ll have lots of opportunities to pick up free bets if you join our recommended South African betting sites. You can claim some through promotions as an existing customer, but there’s always a great chance to get some when you first join a site.